Rhee In-Je, `I Will Continue My Ideological Struggle`

Candidate Rhee In-Je of the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) said on April 10, `I will not step back even an inch from my firm determination for ideological struggle and policy debates,` adding, ` I will keep the identity of the party till last, never wavering in my determination.`

After making this remark on a hastily arranged press briefing, candidate Lee again demanded, `Since President said often times that he would publicly disclose who he supports when an appropriate time comes, he should make his support known public with courage.`

He added, `I will not protest whoever President supports, but I oppose to a will of power which affects the process of the nomination race like the streams of electricity.`

He declared his intention to rely more heavily on positive election strategy in the future, saying, `I will more emphasize my policy directions and ideology.`

However, he denied some press reports, allegedly reporting that he would modify his negative election strategy, saying, `I did not prompt ideological checking test or cloak-and-dagger theory.`

In related story, candidate Roh Moo-Hyun held a press briefing in Cheongju, Chungcheong Province on the same day and disputed the claim of candidate Rhee, saying, `The claim that President is involved in primary race is groundless since Dongkyo-Dong faction shook up my political resurrection by raising `Youngnam encirclement theory` and former party supreme representative Kwon Noh-Gap, who has been perceived as a henchman of President, supported candidate Lee.`

Jeong-Hun Kim yyc11@donga.com · Yong-Gwan Jung yongari@donga.com