Brawl Erupts at Seoul Council over Free Lunch Bill
- 13 years ago
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On Wednesday, a heated debate turned violent in one South Korean city. Lawmakers in Seoul's Metropolitan Council scuffled over a bill. The hot-button issue? Whether to provide free lunches to the city's public school students.
A brawl breaks out between South Korean lawmakers. South Korean council members of the ruling party and opposition party fought with each other at a meeting on Wednesday... over whether to pass a law giving free lunches for students attending public schools.
Democratic Party members are in support of a bill that would give free meals to all elementary and middle school students in Seoul starting next year. But the governing Grand National Party, or GNP, opposes the bill.
During a meeting, council members from both parties physically fought and yelled at each other. Some women were pushed to the ground by other members at the podium.
The GNP and President Lee Myung-bak have made clear their objection to the blanket provision of free lunches, saying benefits should be limited to low-income families and expanded gradually.
After a few rounds of scuffling, Democratic Party members dragged GNP members away from the podium.
In a move that was largely symbolic, the Democratic Party voted to pass the bill without the support of the GNP.
The opposition party has since requested the mayor to submit a reconsideration of the bill.
On Wednesday, a heated debate turned violent in one South Korean city. Lawmakers in Seoul's Metropolitan Council scuffled over a bill. The hot-button issue? Whether to provide free lunches to the city's public school students.
A brawl breaks out between South Korean lawmakers. South Korean council members of the ruling party and opposition party fought with each other at a meeting on Wednesday... over whether to pass a law giving free lunches for students attending public schools.
Democratic Party members are in support of a bill that would give free meals to all elementary and middle school students in Seoul starting next year. But the governing Grand National Party, or GNP, opposes the bill.
During a meeting, council members from both parties physically fought and yelled at each other. Some women were pushed to the ground by other members at the podium.
The GNP and President Lee Myung-bak have made clear their objection to the blanket provision of free lunches, saying benefits should be limited to low-income families and expanded gradually.
After a few rounds of scuffling, Democratic Party members dragged GNP members away from the podium.
In a move that was largely symbolic, the Democratic Party voted to pass the bill without the support of the GNP.
The opposition party has since requested the mayor to submit a reconsideration of the bill.