`The U.S. to Hand-off from Korean Election`

Lee Chung-Ryol who is the special advisor for international affairs of presidential candidate of the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) Roh Moo-Hyun recently visited the U.S. and transferred an explanation file on candidate Roh to officials of the U.S., according to a report on April 30.

Spokesperson of candidate Roh camp explained in the day, `Special adviser Lee visited the U.S. on April 13, and transferred a `Roh Moo-Hyun file` of 27 pages volume, in which the foreign policy of candidate Roh, brief personal history, and the prelude of a book titled, `Lincoln whom Roh Moo-Hyun met` are included.`

Spokesperson Yoo said, `Special adviser Lee went there after getting a consent of candidate Roh on his trip,` and added, `He was just trying to grasp the views on Korea of the working-level officials of the U.S., not to transfer any message of candidate Roh to the U.S. side.` Yoo further said, `The file transferred to the U.S. government officials is in a public domain, and had already distributed to foreign correspondents.`

In related story, the first edition of weekly Ohmai News published in the day reported, `Special adviser Lee said to the U.S. officials not to think about interfering in the general election of Korea even though candidate Roh may not be a favorite of the Republican Party, and to hand-off from Korea`s party primaries.` But Lee denied the report saying, `I did not utter that kind of statement.`

In relation to this, a related person of candidate Roh camp said, `We will heavily reprimand him including taking measures of firing his special advisory position.`

Jeong-Hun Kim jnghn@donga.com