New GNP Leader Urges Mr. Roh to Accept New Independent Counsel Bill

At the national convention of the opposition Grand National Party (GNP) on Thursday, Choi Byung-yul, the party`s newly elected chairman, gave his acceptance speech. During the speech, he announced a three-point request to President Roh Moo-hyun, saying that now is the time for him to do his best to overcome the current crisis the government is facing.

The new chairman demanded that the president disaffiliate himself from the ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP), accept a new independent counsel bill, and hold regular meetings with the leader of the majority party.

He stressed that if the president accepts the three-point request, he would get support from the opposition party and make steps towards national unity. However, he added that if the president continues on the path towards political chaos, the party would do everything in its powers to stop him.

Regarding a new independent counsel bill that the GNP presented to the National Assembly, Choi said that the whole truth surrounding the secret transfer to Pyongyang should be disclosed. He said however that he did not want former President Kim Dae-jung to be indicted, though urged the president to accept the bill.

In promising to reform the GNP for the future, he suggested his vision for the party.

With respect to political reform, he proposed the transformation of the National Assembly special committee for political reform into a national special committee for political reform consisting of ruling and opposition party members, those in academia, journalists, and leaders of respected civic groups, of which any decisions the ruling and opposition camps should unconditionally accept.

At the 5th national convention held at Jamsil Stadium, the GNP appointed Choi Byung-yul its new chairman, whose tenure will last one year.

With the election of the new leader, the GNP is to prepare a new leadership to herald a post-Lee Hoi-chang era and spearhead the party`s drive to win in the general elections next year.

According to the results, Choi won 46,074 out of 128,721 ballots cast, or 35.7 percent, followed by former chairman Suh Chung-won, who received 42,965 votes (33.3%).

Kang Jae-sup and Kim Deog-ryong earned 18,899 votes and 15,680 votes, respectively while Lee Jae-oh and Kim Hyung-o won 2,697 and 2,406 votes, respectively.

The GNP plans to elect a new floor leader and new chairman of the policy committee respectively at the general meeting and a joint meeting between its lawmakers and heads of district party chapters on June 30.

Yeon-Wook Jung jyw11@donga.com