JP Returns

The United Liberal Democrats (ULD) returned to normalcy after the return of Kim Jong-pil, the party's honorary president.

JP held a luncheon to honor the elected candidates in a Chinese restaurant inside the 63 building in Youido.

JP stated that the ULD's future was uncertain, stressing that members of the ULD had to cooperate more than in the past.

The ULD decided to continue with its independent line. The party believes that the ULD will be able to survive since the opposition Grand National Party(GNP) and the ruling Millennium Democratic Party(MDP) were unable to secure an outright majority. The GNP and MDP received 133 and 117 seats,respectively.

Lee Han-dong, president of the ULD, said that the party must cooperate with the ruling and oposition parties in order to evolve and ensure the party's survival.

In the event that a party fails to win 20 seats, access to the president's room and the general affairs room from the National Assembly is barred. In addition, nine policy committee members from the National Assembly will have to withdraw. They will also be unable to take part in the negotiation process for the position of chief of a standing committee. The ULD has also lost the right to speak and their subsidies have been cut by 2/3.

The ULD is focusing on the negotiating groups, demanding that the minimum requirements for participation in a negotiating group be lowered by 15 seats.

by Chun Young-gi