Parliamentary Candidates Can Apply In Both Local and National Constituencies

As there are debates over Constitutional revision for the introduction of the parliamentary government system in corners of the political world, Choe Byung-yul, head of the opposition Grand National Party (GNP), said that it is not possible considering the reality. He added that it could be possible to revise the Constitution to allow the second term of the president around 2006.

At a discussion session hosted by a television journalists association, the GNP chairman said that the party would push ahead with a plan to allow party candidates to apply in both local constituencies and the national constituency where proportional representation is applied from the 17th parliamentary election, like in Germany, and to distribute three seats given by the proportional representation system to candidates from Gwangju and Jeolla Provinces by region.

"The international community should join forces to persuade North Korea into giving up its nuclear ambitions instead of blocking up the country and help the Kim Jong-il government lead North Korea for a while," the GNP chairman said. He also added that he would make efforts to restore cooperation and confidence between South Korea and the U.S. by visiting the U.S and he had the willingness to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-il if necessary.

Yeon-Wook Jung jyw11@donga.com