Roh, GNP Leader Reach Agreement

President Roh Moo-hyun and Grand National Party leader Kang Jae-sup agreed yesterday that they would do their utmost to pass contentious bills, including the judicial reform bill and private school bill, in the special session of the National Assembly in February.

Presidential PR secretary Yun Seung-yong and GNP spokesperson Nah Gyeong-won said that Roh and Kang had a meeting at Cheong Wa Dae and reached this conclusion.

It was the first meeting between the president and a GNP chairperson in 17 months since the president and former GNP Chair Park Geun-hye met to discuss a grand coalition in September 2005.

Kang requested a revision of a controversial clause about opening up the board of school foundations to outsiders of the private school law at the meeting, demanding implementation of the law. Roh said, “I’ll review your request. But I hope the ruling and opposition camps will reach an agreement.”

The president said, “It is better to reach an agreement through mutual concessions between the ruling and opposition parties, and I’ll respect the agreement,” adding, “The ruling Uri Party is not in a normal situation, and the president is not the leader of the party. This applies to the private school law.”

Regarding the president’s remark, GNP floor leader Kim Hyeong-oh said, “The president’s remark has a symbolic meaning, and I believe that we have the momentum for negotiation.”

However, Uri Party floor leader Chang, Young-dal responded negatively, saying, “I haven’t found a reason to change our party’s opinion about the private school law.”

jyw11@donga.com