Ruling NMDP Faces Young Storm

The ruling New Millennium Democratic Party is to hold an expanded executive council today to talk about the request of the Party`s young lawmakers. However, the caucus of young lawmakers, who have been elected once or twice as Assembly members, is to gather more advocate members and reiterate their demands for the reformation of NMDP tomorrow.

Particularly, Supreme members Chung Dae-Chul and Chung Dong-Young are expected to express their supports for the young caucus`s request for the Party`s reformation. They are also anticipated to demand that the Supreme Council takes the initiative in the reformation of NMDP. Rep. Chung Dong-Young brought up yesterday the responsibility of the Supreme Council members, who had failed to collect the opinions of the young caucus through the regular channel.

In advance, the two Chungs and other two Supreme Council members Kim Keun-Tae and Kim Won-Gi met together and discussed the reformation of the Party and the government on May 26.

The leading group of the young caucus is to have chain meetings and reiterate their demands tomorrow when other members return from their overseas visits.

Rep. Lee Jong-Gul declared a continuing protest when the leaders of NMDP do not make the grand decision. He said, ``It would be a misjudgment if Chung Wa Dae and the Party`s authority consider [our declaration] as same as other past declarations.``

Meanwhile, the NMDP leaders agreed at a high official meeting on May 26:on an early settlement of the controversies by selectively accepting the demands of the young caucus, having an expanded executive council on May 28, an executive committee of the party on May 30, a workshop of the representatives, and conveying the collected settlement plans to the President after the series of meetings.

A high official of Chung Wa Dae commented, ``[The NMDP] is a democratic party in which any one may speak up. But a democratic process is recommended. Their requests can be reflected through a process of consensus.``

Moon Chul fullmoon@donga.com