“Expecting More Big Shifts till Presidential Election“

Han Kwang-Ok, the chairperson of the New Millennium Democratic Party, said yesterday that "judging from past experience, new parties were always formed during the season of the presidential election. Since one year to the presidential election is a long time, there will be many big shifts until then."

Chairperson Han also said at the New Year`s interview with the Donga Ilbo, "the DJP single candidate negotiation in 1997 was completed only 2 months before the presidential election."

With regard to revising the Constitution, he stated, "The 5 year single-term system for the Presidency must be revised since this is not an era when a long-term seizure of power is no longer possible. However, the timing must be carefully considered not to divert from the presidential race."

Mr. Han also clearly expressed his objection against an artificial re-arrangement of the political circle.

In terms of the continuing exposure of the various corruption cases, he commented that "it is very regretful that many groundless rumors have been floating around by the opposition party. NMDP has also insisted on thorough investigations of suspicious cases but I acknowledge that the truth has not been fully revealed."

chang@donga.com