Cheong Wa Dae: No Conflicts in 2006

On the first day of the New Year, presidential hopefuls renewed their resolutions at various New Year events, and the ruling and opposition parties both held New Year’s Day celebrations, which were filled with party members committing themselves to gaining control over state affairs and winning the May 31 local elections.

Cheong Wa Dae-

President Roh Moo-hyun did not receive any special visitors and spent the day with his family. He sent Presidential Chief of Staff Lee Byung-wan to visit former presidents Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung with orchids and New Year’s cards. He sent orchids and New Year’s cards to former presidents Choi Kyu-ha, Chun Doo-hwan and Roh Tae-woo, as well.

Roh sent Presidential Policy Director Kim Byung-jun to deliver New Year’s greetings to National Assembly Chairman Kim Won-ki and five representatives of Korea’s ruling and opposition parties, including the Uri Party, the Grand National Party, the Millennium Democratic Party, the Democratic Labor Party, and the United Liberal Democrats.

Meanwhile, in a luncheon with Cheong Wa Dae correspondents, Presidential Chief of Staff Lee Byung-wan said that “Cheon-ji-gyo-tae” is the objective that the government has set for this year. “Cheon-ji-gyo-tae” is one of the 64 signs described in the Book of Changes. Its meaning is that the sky (cheon) and the ground (ji) harmonize and interact with each other. Lee explained, “If social bi-polarization issues are resolved and there are no serious political and social conflicts, the government will become a true example of Cheon-ji-gyo-tae.”

Party Leaders-

Uri Party Chairman Jeong Se-kyun and other Uri Party lawmakers paid tribute to Korea’s fallen at Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-dong, Seoul and visited former president Kim Dae-Jung and National Assembly Chairman Kim Won-ki. In his New Year’s address, Jeong said, “We’ve created the foundation to restore our self-confidence and show that we are alive and well,” regarding the Past Injustices Investigation Law and the Private School Law.

Grand National Party Chairwoman Park Geun-hye, who has been leading the campaign to repeal the Private School Law for 20 days outside the National Assembly, paid her respects at Seoul National Cemetery with party officials. Afterwards, she participated in a New Year’s Day celebration and other celebration events held in the party building. “When we have not fulfilled out duty to defend the nation, how can we pay tribute to the souls of those who died defending the nation, and how can we not feel ashamed?” she said, renewing her determination to fight to the end for the repeal of the Private School Law.

The leaders of the Millennium Democratic Party, including Representative Han Hwa-gap, visited former president Kim Dae-jung and went to Gwangju to visit the May 18 National Cemetery. Acting Representative Kwon Young-ghil of the Democratic Labor Party participated in the New Year’s Day celebration of the party and paid respects to those who died for the democratization of the nation and who are resting in Moran Memorial Park in Maseok, Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province.

Presidential Hopefuls-

Chung Dong-young, the former unification minister, visited former president Kim Dae-jung and National Assembly Chairman Kim Won-ki early in the morning. After that, he hiked with his family on a mountain near Seoul. Former Minister of Health and Welfare Kim Geun-tae went to Homi Got in Pohang, Northern Gyeongsang Province, watched a sunrise there, and visited POSCO to give encouragement to workers. Lee Myung-bak, Seoul City mayor, paid tribute at the National Cemetery, participated in a New Year’s Day celebration and received visitors at the mayor’s official residence in Hyehwa-dong. Sohn Hak-gyu, former governor of Gyeonggi Province, and Goh Kun, former prime minister, visited former presidents to extend their New Year’s greetings.

woogija@donga.com