Dispute in World Cup panel erupts

A controversy has erupted over alleged pressure for the resignation of Park Seh-Jik, chairman of the 2002 World Cup Organizing Committee.

Park, 67, claimed Sunday that the government was improperly pressing him to resign and that he would not step down because there was no reason for him to resign.

¡°Our position is that we are unable to host the 2002 World Cup smoothly under the leadership of chairman Park,¡± a ranking official at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said. ¡°It is nothing but an attempt to cover his faults that he is citing a political plot or improper pressure."

The official insisted that Park, was elected by delegates of the committee unanimously, was not being pressured for resignation.

"We have never pressed him to resign," the official said.

About 40 of the 67 committee members have asked for a special session of the committee to discuss Park`s resignation, according to reports. Unless Park accepts the call for the session, the committee will ask the minister of culture and tourism, who has jurisdiction over the committee, to approve their call for the special meeting, according to sources.

According to the statutes of the organizing committee, the chairman`s resignation can be determined by the support of the majority of its delegates.