Retirement of Kwon Rho-Gap & Park, Ji-Won Must Be Decided before President`s Return

The leaders of the 5 reformist groups in the New Millennium Democratic Party asserted yesterday that the retirement of former Supreme Council member Kwon Rho-Gap and senior secretary to the President Park Ji-Won must be accomplished in the first place.

Rep. Chang Young-Dal said, ``the reorganization of the party`s system is useless without the reformation of the human resources. Their early decision before the President`s return is the only way to lessen the burden of the President.``

This is the first time that they requested for the retirement of Mr. Kwon and Park as a general opinion of the 5 groups.

However, the reformists agreed to restrain themselves from a collective action such as the collection of signatures until the President returns.

The reformists delivered the opinion to Chief Secretary to the President Lee Sang-Ju, who collected the public opinions instead of the President during Nov. 4th and 5th, and strongly demanded for the Presidential decision right after his returning.

However, concerning the retirement of Mr. Kwon and Park, Supreme Council member Rhee In-Jae, remarked ``the President and themselves might be deeply coping with it. We don`t have to force them to do so.`` Former Supreme Council member Kwon will express his response to the request of the reformists at the press conference on Nov. 8th.

Meanwhile, chairperson Han Kwang-Ok, revealed ``the President will set up a frame concerning the current issues after listening all the opinions of the party at the Supreme Council meeting in Cheong Wa Dae on Nov. 7th. The meeting will be held as scheduled even if Supreme Council members Rhee In-Jae and Chung Dong-Young would not participate.``

chang@donga.com