Roh, `Political Reformation Prior to Local Election`

Presidential candidate of the Millennium Democratic Party, Roh Moo-Hyun, expressed his desire to implement the political reformation before the local election on April 29, saying about his political reformation, ` I may not say with any confirmed evidence on the exact time, but a little bit of symbolic change will take place before the June local election.`

Candidate Roh said, in a press conference held at MDP headquarters in the day, `Since the regional rivalries of Korean politics are dependent on each other, some part will inevitably break up when the other part breaks up.`

When asked about any possible alignment with a democratic faction including Reps. Kim Deok-Ryong, Kang Sam-Jae, and Park Jong-Woong, Roh answered, `I haven`t thought abut particular persons, but I expect a voluntary common understanding will be deepened and a natural change will occur in the opposition camp, too.`

He even said the reason why he omitted a phrase in the original acceptance speech text when he spoke about the consolidation of democratic forces centered on MDP in April 27 was because, `Less flexibility is resulted when the choice of selection is limited.`

When asked about whether he `is thinking about renaming the party name in order to strengthen political reformation`, Roh said,` That is not a thing that I alone can decide indiscreetly. But I am not going to narrow my options myself,` which indicated he may not exclude reviewing the issue of changing the party name MDP when it is appropriate.

On Rph`s posture, Rep. Park Jong-Woong who acts as a pseudo spokesperson of former president Kim Young-Sam reacted negatively, saying, `If candidate Roh`s a so-called great alliance of democratic forces means a reconciliation between DJ and YS, then that is beyond expectation at this stage.`

Spokesperson of the Grand National Party Nam Kyung-Pil commented, `Mentioning of political reformation by candidate Roh means that Roh, taking over the rigging politics and destruction techniques against the opposition camp of President Kim Dae-Jung, is trying to rip off some of political structures and to paste it to other parts,` and criticized, `The monopolistic scheme of candidate Roh is wrapped up in a privilege mentality against people, and will face a national resistance.`

In-Soo Song issong@donga.com · Jeong-Hun Kim jnghn@donga.com