``Privatization of Power by Particular Group…Not Aware of Crisis``

Rep. Kim Keun-Tae, the supreme council member of the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP), said on Saturday that ``while the party, the government, and Cheong Wa Dae are not well aware of the current crisis, a phenomenon of the `privatization of power` by a particular group and several individuals is appearing.``

Kim during his visit to Daegu said that ``the current national crisis is not simply a delay of the reform, but the crisis of the reform. It becomes the crisis of the democratic system of South Korea, not simply the crisis of the government.``

Kim criticized as such in his keynote statement entitled `the exhortation and plan on the nation`s course ahead`, which was distributed in advance, at the fourth Korean peninsula forum held at Susung Hotel in Dague. He defined the `privatization of power` as ``abuse which only a small number of a particular group monopolizes the power to decide and information.``

As his criticism targets the ruling party`s Dongkyo-dong line people and some of the Cheong Wa Dae staffs, it is likely to create a stir.

Responding to the question that asked the connection between the Dongkyo-dong line people and the `Lee Yong-Ho scandal`, he nailed the Dongkyo-dong line people saying that ``only if the insider of the ruling party changes, people are empowered to start again. However, it is the Dongkyo-dong line people who disturb and derange. That is why we try to struggle again.``

Kim Keun-Tae said, ``People suspect that Lee was released because of the pressure from the powerful people who are involved in the Lee Yong-Ho case. If the government tries to cover the case because the powerful are involved, while betraying people`s trust, we will resolutely struggle against it as we did during the authoritarian regime.``

Kim Chang-Hyuk chang@donga.com