GNP, MDP Expected to Make Desperate Efforts to Lure Other Reps.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the outcome of the Thursday general elections will probably lead the ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) and main opposition Grand National Party to make desperate efforts to lure independent lawmakers and others from minority parties.

Neither the GNP, which garnered 133 seats, nor the MDP, which won 115 seats, failed to obtain the majority 137 seats needed in the 273-seat 16th National Assembly.

The two main parties are expected to make all-out efforts to recruit lawmakers of the minor opposition party United Liberal Democrats (ULD) with 17 seats, the Democratic People's Party (DPP) with two and six independents to grab the political initiative in the next four years.

The ULD, which had 50 lawmakers in the last parliament, cannot vote anymore as it failed to won at least 20 seats needed for forming a floor negotiating body.

The GNP is likely to step up its attack against the ruling MDP to shake the government party's position in domestic politics.

This strategy is also needed to prevent any possible intra-party strife and challenges from non-mainstream members against GNP leader Lee Hoi-chang.

Thus the GNP is expected to get a firm grip on the government's political agenda such as the planned inter-Korean summit and reform of politics and economy.

'The future political path of President Kim Dae-jung will experience a lot of hardship due to the defeat of the GNP in the elections Thursday,' a local political analyst said Friday.

The ULD, which was in a coalition government with the MDP for two years, will likely seek another partnership with the MDP or the GNP not to lose its independent political role.

With the collapse of the ULD, the political status of its honorary president Kim Jong-pil will further weaken.

The defeat of the DPP, whose silent patron was former President Kim Young-sam, will be also expected to fan the breakup of the 'era of the three Kims' that has dominated Korean politics since the early 1980s.

The three Kims are President Kim Dae-jung, Kim Jong-pil and Kim Young-sam.

With the good showing of the MDP in the Chungchong region and Taejon, the former stronghold of ULD, and in the Kyonggi and Kangwon Provinces, the position of MDP campaign measures committee chairman Rhee In-je within the party is expected to rise substantially.

Rhee's final goal is apparently running for president in 2002.

Meanwhile, President Kim will concentrate on persuading the GNP to support him.

'Kim's possible bid for an artificial political reshuffle will only cause a derailing of the inter-Korean summit June 12-14 in Pyongyang and strong backlashes from the GNP and other minority parties,' one analyst said.

With the mass election of lawmakers in their 30s instead of multi-term politicians, the 16th General Assembly may see cleaner and more transparent politics in line with the people's wishes.