Former President YS Feels Responsible for Current Political Developments Since He Chose President Roh in the Past

The Grand National Party (GNP) Chairman Choe Byung-yul’s hunger strike is about to end after the likelihood of a revote over the independent prosecution bill, which authorizes a special counsel team to investigate into the president’s former aides, seems all but guaranteed due mainly to the cooperation of other parties including the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) and United Liberal Democrats Party (ULDP). Chairman Choe has been on a hunger strike, requesting the president to withdraw his decision to veto the controversial bill.

Chairman Choe, who has been on a hunger strike for eight days, has insisted that he would continue his strike and vote for the bill in the National Assembly on December 4, although medical staff and party members have advised him to be hospitalized on December 3.

It is reported that Chairman Choe has considered continuing his hunger strike in a bid to protest against the president’s failed personnel policy even after the controversial bill was endorsed again by the lawmakers.

Aware that the public anger is running high against the political parties’ all-out war attitudes and Korean people’s desire for the parliament’s operation to resume, Chairman Choe was reported to have accepted his staff officers’ advice to be hospitalized.

Lim Tae-hee, the chief of staff, said, “The GNP is reviewing whether to put Chairman Choe in hospital care after lawmakers vote again on the controversial independent prosecution bill.” The chief of staff went on to say that a wheelchair is being prepared to help Chairman Choe move to the parliament since the chairman wants to personally attend the parliament session to cast his vote.

Oh Byung-hee, Choe’s medical attendant at the Medical School of Seoul National University, said, “Even though the chairman is not in serious condition, it is well-advised for him to end his hunger strike and to be hospitalized.”

Former president Kim Young-sam also asked the chairman to stop his hunger strike when he visited.

“I feel responsible for the current political mess since I am the one who chose President Roh and helped him to become a lawmaker in the past,” the former president said when the chairman criticized Roh by saying, “It defies reason for the president to veto the independent counsel bill. His decision to veto the bill is also betrayal against the people’s expectation.”

Former president Roh Tae-woo emailed the chairman and praised the chairman’s firm resolve and courage to tackle the Korean political problems for the good of the nation.

Myoung-Gun Lee gun43@donga.com