MDP Chairman Chyung Dai-chul Steps Down

As Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) chairman Chyung Dai-chul stepped down on Sunday, both the ruling MDP and the new party are accelerating the process of reorganizing each party`s apparatus.

At a press conference held in MDP headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, Rep. Chyung Dai-chul officially announced that he would step down, saying ˝I tried hard to form a new party, not causing a split in the MDP, but my efforts ended in failure. I confess that all of this is due to my lack of virtue and incompetence.˝

Aides to former MDP chairman Chyung supported the prediction that Chyung would join the new party around mid-October, saying that he would make an important announcement late next month, after returning from the National Assembly`s Unification, foreign Affairs and Trade Committee`s inspection of government offices overseas, which will start September 22 in Beijing.

Meanwhile, Park Sang-cheon took over the party`s top post because he won the most votes following Chyung Dai-chul in the party`s national convention in April 2002.

Earlier on Saturday, 37 lawmakers loyal to President Roh Moo-hyun from the MDP officially registered as a new floor negotiation group, tentatively named ˝New Party for National participatory Union,˝ after handing in written reports of their secession from the MDP. And five former GNP members also joined the new party.

Reps. Kim Won-woong and Ryu Si-min of People`s Party for Reform are also likely to join the new political force around Monday.

The new party appointed Rep. Lee Hae-chan chairman of the party planning committee; Rep. Chung Dong-chea chairman of the public relations committee; Rep. Lee Sang-soo, chairman of the general affairs committee; Rep. Bae Ki-sun chairman of the e-party committee: Rep. Chang young-dal chairman of the organizing committee; Rep. Kim Hee-sun chairman of the Women`s committee; Rep. Lee Ho-woong chairman of the external cooperation committee; and Rep. Yoo Jay-kun chairman of the international cooperation committee.

On Sunday morning, 12 MDP high-ranking members convened at Yoido Hotel and decided to establish the countermeasure committee, prepare party reform plans at an early date, and prepare for the national convention.

Sung-Won Park swpark@donga.com