GNP to open "Graduate School of Politics''

The opposition Grand National Party plans to open an intra-party ¡®graduate school of politics¡¯ in a bid to foster and secure political candidates armed with specialized knowledge and insight. The party also plans to reopen its Central Politican Training Institute in Chonan, South Chungcheong province- that has been closed for the past two and a half years due to financial difficulties.

The establishment of the envisioned graduate school is designed to formalize political training instead of recruiting candidates through personal connections.

The GNP will open the school with a three-month course featuring lessons to help students adapt themselves to actual political practices, a party official said.

The opposition party will also admit some 800 members of the Paju local chapter in Gyeonggi-do this September.

In preparation for the reopening of the institute, the party appointed the vice-director of the institute and four lecturers. The central party and the local chapter will share training expenses for the time being, in consideration of the party`s financial difficulties.