Michael Wolraich's picture

    Sledgehammer Politics in South Korea

    By Michael Wolraich on Fri, 12/19/2008 - 1:02pm | Politics

    Ah Democracy...freely elected legislators dutifully fulfilling the will of the people by blockading themselves in a locked room while the honorable opposition attempts to dutifully fulfill the will of the rest of the people by breaking down the door with a sledgehammer and other sundry power tools. Full video after the jump.

    The ruling Grand National Party resorted to the locked room approach in order to pass a free trade agreement with the U.S.in peace and quiet. To make sure that they had sufficient peace and quiet, they also blockaded the entrance to the room with office furniture. For good measure, the GNP-affiliated committee chairman invoked his right to use force in order to keep measure.

    As opposition lawmakers breached the doors with sledgehammer and possibly a chainsaw, security guards enforced the chairman's right to use force with fire extinguishers. Fire retardant is perhaps not the most effective means of defense, but as they were under siege, the guards had to make do with the weapons at hand. Don't they use staplers in South Korea?

    The determined opposition overwhelmed the fire-extinguisher-armed defenders with a fire hose but were thwarted by the strategically placed office furniture, which held them at bay until the GNP succeeded in signing the agreement. Note to opposition: next time bring siege engines.

    Casualties included cuts and bruises, some seriously f-ed up office furniture, and all sense of decorum.

    Full story from the AP

    And here's the video. I recommend watching to the end to see the aftermath...

    Pictures from the L.A. Times...

    Sledgehammer

    Barricade

    Fire extinguishers

     

    Topics: 
    Politics

    Comments

    Parts of the revolution will be televised.


    by Donal on Fri, 12/19/2008 - 1:30pm

    chuckle out loud


    by Michael Wolraich on Fri, 12/19/2008 - 1:48pm

    The revolution will not be televised, but it will be blogged, youtubed, twittered and facebooked.


    by DF on Fri, 12/19/2008 - 3:23pm

    now this is democracy. i love it. what exactly were the opposition politicians going to do if they got in - start a cage match? (Actually, ive seen fisticuffs before in korean politics, i think).


    by Deadman on Fri, 12/19/2008 - 3:08pm

    Boys, if you're thinking of trying this at home, please employ caution. Here are some tips:

    http://artofmanliness.com/2008/04/08/how-to-break-down-a-door/


    by Orlando on Fri, 12/19/2008 - 3:40pm

    Ah, next oooorder of business, may I help you?

    Yeah, I'd like to place a request.

    What you like?

    We'd like vote on the free trade agreement.

    And then?

    And come in your private room to sign it.

    And then?

    And for you to call off the security guards.

    And then?

    And then, (the fire extinguishers? Yeah) put down the fire extinguishers.

    And then?

    Oh, ah, turn off the fire hose, too.

    And then?

    Uh, gosh I think that's about it.

    And then?

    No, that's it.

    And then?

    No and then, we, we, that's all we want.

    And then?

    And then nothin else cause we're done negotiatin, OK?

    And then?

    No, no, see, all we want is to vote on the free trade agreement, enter the private room, and lose the security guards (And the fire hose, dude) and for you to turn off the fire hose.

    Annd theen?

    (and unpile the furniture)

    And unpile the furniture, yes, so it's the agreement, the room, the guards, the hose and the furniture, and that's it.

    Annnd theeen?

    And then, ummm, you can just do all of that cause we're ready to legislate.

    Annnnd theeeen?

    I refuse to play your Korean politics mind games.

    Aaand theeen?

    No! No and then!

    And then?

    No and then!

    And then?

    No and then!

    And then?

    No and then!

    And then?

    No, no and then!

    Annnnd theeeen?

    You are really starting to piss me off ...

    Annnnd theeeen?

    And then, we're gonna come in there and put our sledgehammers in your endtables, if you say and then again!!!

    And then, and then, and then, and then, and then, and then, and then ...

    (Fighting breaks out)


    by Donal on Fri, 12/19/2008 - 7:54pm

    Latest Comments