코로나 속 21대 첫 정기국회 오늘 개막…100일간 예산•입법전쟁 개시<br /><br /> South Korea's 21st National Assembly was formed following the April general election which attracted the highest voter turnout in 28 years, despite being held in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. <br />And on Tuesday, with even stricter quarantine measures in place, parliament kick-started its September regular session,...with the goal of easing the burden the public is feeling as a result of the national coronavirus crisis. <br />Lee Kyung-eun has the details. <br /> Under South Korean constitutional law, it is the parliament's duty to open regular National Assembly sessions every September. And, even in the times of COVID-19, 2020 is no exception.<br /><br />"The 21st National Assembly kick starts its regular session in the midst of a national emergency."<br /><br /> However, this year, the opening ceremony has been simplified,...and a new set of anti-virus measures have been put in place. <br />Such as the use of transparent dividers, separate microphones, and personal hand sanitizers.<br />No visitors were allowed inside and lawmakers kept their masks on while singing the national anthem, which was shortened to just the first verse. <br /> Parliament imposed these ramped-up quarantine efforts after having to go through a three-day coronavirus-forced shutdown last week. <br />And because this year's September session kicks amid COVID-19, lawmakers hold even greater responsibility. <br /><br />"We are running out of time. The parliament should create a "bridge" which people can use to pass through this "river" of crisis."<br /><br /> The speaker emphasized that the key tasks of the one-hundred day session should be to pass laws related to the pandemic and people's livelihoods.<br />Chief upon which will be to decide whether or not to provide a second round of emergency disaster relief funds. <br />Lawmakers will also debate over inter-Korean relations, boosting sectors within the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and shifting parliamentary procedures online. <br /><br />"But to take action in a timely manner will require bipartisan cooperation.<br />A key question is whether the ruling Democratic Party's new leader Lee Nak-yon, who has friendly ties to the opposition leadership, can help make that happen.<br />Lee Kyung-eun, Arirang News." <br />
