Ruling Party Holds Meeting with Disgruntled Governors

The ruling Grand National Party leadership plans to hold a policy council with 12 governors who belong to the party.

A senior party member said Thursday, “Since certain governors are disgruntled over the government and the party, we will listen to their requests and discuss policies for provincial development with them.”

Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-su and South Chungcheong Province Governor Lee Wan-gu have complained about delayed deregulation in the Seoul metropolitan area and lack of attention to South Chungcheong, serving up strong rhetoric against the president and the party.

The party leadership said it can prevent a crisis in the run-up to the 2010 local elections by dealing with their complaints since certain governors want to run for president in 2012.

The party`s supreme council chairman Heo Tae-yeol said in a meeting, “The party should have constant communication with governors, mayors and county governors.”

“People might find unity in the party lacking due to improper comments from certain governors. The absence of communication between governors and the party has made the problem more serious.”

ditto@donga.com