Uri Party Will Concentrate on the Press and Judicial Reformation

Shin Ki-nam, new chairman of the Uri Party, said on May 19, “We will make every effort to concentrate on the tasks in national consensus such as the reformation of the press, the judicial reform, and the revision of the special law on revealing the truth of the pro-Japanese party.”

“If the reform is more difficult, it takes more time. We need to propel the reformation quickly,” said Shin at the press conference for his inauguration.

Shin emphasized, “We will closely cooperate with the president and a guideline division in the government for the livelihood of the nation. We will fix the system of the party in power to fulfill the tasks to be reformed at the same time.”

About the relations with the opposition parties, he said, “We will be open-minded to them as political partners. I will thoroughly adhere to 5:3 representatives’ agreement that my predecessor Chung Dong-young settled with Rep. Park Geun-hye of the Grand National Party.”

He mentioned about the president’s joining the party, “It is a natural procedure. I think he will serve as an ordinary member. I will talk to him on May 20 after discussing what position he should have and what role he will take with other members in the party.”

President Roh will reveal his intention to join the party at the dinner meeting with the guidance group of the Uri Party on May 20.

Young-Hae Choi yhchoi65@donga.com