정치권도 뚫렸다, 차명진 '정치인 첫 확진' ...與 전당대회 온라인 개최<br /><br />The political circles here in South Korea are also on high alert as a number of current and former lawmakers have had to be tested for the coronavirus for coming in contact with confirmed patients.<br />One ex-politician has tested positive for the virus; the ruling Democratic Party is going all-virtual with its national convention to observe the nation's level two social distancing.<br />Not only that, parliament is pushing for legal revisions to allow lawmakers to vote on bills remotely, in case the situation worsens.<br />Kim Mok-yeon has a wrap up.<br />Former lawmaker Cha Myung-jin has become the first political figure in South Korea to test positive for COVID-19.<br />Health authorities say Cha, who was a lawmaker for the conservative Saenuri Party under a previous government, was confirmed in the early hours of Wednesday morning, after being tested the day before.<br />He's known to have participated in the massive rally held at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul on Saturday, led by Sarang Jeil Church...the source of the nation's second largest cluster infection.<br />Lee Nak-yon, the ruling Democratic Party's leading candidate for the party chairman elections next week, was also tested but the result came back negative.<br />Lee was tested as he came into indirect contact with a COVID-19-confirmed journalist during a radio interview on Monday.<br />Two other lawmakers, Kim Yong-min of the Democratic Party and Choi Hyung-du of the main opposition party have also been tested after indirect contact with the same journalist. The results are expected Thursday morning.<br />Meanwhile, the resurgence in COVID-19 cases has affected numerous scheduled National Assembly events, including the ruling party's national convention.<br />The Democratic Party announced Wednesday that it will elect its new leader virtually, instead of its usual large-scale ceremony.<br />The convention will be held at the party's headquarters in western Seoul next Saturday with around 50 people in attendance, including candidates and staff members.<br />In a related move, the National Assembly Secretariat is also pushing for legal revisions to allow remote voting on bills,... in case parliament sessions are canceled due to COVID-19<br />Usually, lawmakers are required to be physically present in the parliamentary chambers to cast their votes, but the secretariat is pushing for new amendments to allow hold videoconferences and online voting.<br />Kim Mok-yeon, Arirang News.<br />
