Opposition Parties Criticize President Kim's Remarks on 'Special Busin

The three opposition parties reproached President Kim Dae-jung's statement predicting a "business boom after the national election" to be an example of a "new type of government intervention" to influence the results of the election.

The leader of the Grand National Party (GNP) Lee Hoi-Chang voiced his suspicion of any boom due to thawing relations with North Korea by saying "how in the world would North Korea bring to our enterprises a business boom with the money they have?". Lee then went on to point out that "either President Kim is lying to influence the election or he is planning large-scale support for North Korea.".

Mr.Lee also critisized the president saying,"he is abusing the relationship between North and South Korea to influence the election with this ridiculous deception when he insisted so much on the neccesity of not doing so when he was in the opposition party."

Lee Han-dong, leader of the United Liberal Democrats, pointed out at a debate for the parties in Tongjak-gu that," It has not occured to President Kim that the only business we'll be doing with North Korea would be something that will cost us money.".

by Choi Sang-yun