Hong Sa-Duk Sheds Loner Image to Become Vice Speaker

Vice parliamentary speaker Hong Sa-duk's unique political style is well recognized by President Kim Dae-jung and and Kim Young-sam.

Hong Sa-duk of the Grand National Party is always seated next to GNP President Lee Hoi-chang as his right-hand man.

Still, it has only been four months since Hong took Lee Hoi-chang's side, after ending his life as an independent lawmaker and accepting the post of chief election campaigner in the GNP. Hong's entry in the Grand National Party is viewed as his effort to rid himself of the “loner” image that has followed him throughout his career. During the general election he submitted a 'mid-term DJ report' highlighting Hong's unique political tastes and ideas to voters and winning Lee's confidence.

Hong's quick improvisation and eloquent speech was first acknowledged during the 12th session of the National Assembly, when he was struggling as a spokesman of the NKDP and first attracting the attention of Kim Dae-jung and Kim Young-sam. DJ subsequently chose him as spokesman in the 1992 presidential elections and YS appointed him Minister of Political Affairs near the end of Kim Young-sam's tenure.

Hong has fought his way to create programs beyond the “three-Kim” era and is now preparing for a 'post-DJ' era.

Hong is married and has two children, one son and two daughters. He graduated from Seoul National University and majored in diplomatics and was a reporter for the JoongAng Daily News. He served as chairman of the Environment and Labor Committee before becoming the minister of Political Affairs and chief campaigner for the GNP.

Choi Sang-yon choisy@joongang.co.kr

Kim Chong-hoh, Vice Speaker and Kim Jong-pil's Golf Partner

Kim Chong-hoh is perhaps most famous for securing important policies despite changes in administration and is a favoirte golf partner of Kim Jong-pil.

Parliamentary vice speaker Kim Chong-hoh, unlike Hong, has something of a tenacious quality about him. Since first stepping into politics during the 11th National Constituency as a member of the Democratic Justice Party, he has survived six defeats in consecutive elections.

During the recent general elections on April 13 he was targeted by civic groups in their blacklisting campaign, forcing him to give up his party nomination in his district.

Instead of voicing his complaints, Kim followed Kim Jong-pil during his campaign to regional areas and won a proportional representation. Kim is known to be JP's favorite golf partner.

Close observers of Kim Jong-pil point out that this fact may be the most likely reason for Kim Chong-hoh's appointment to vice parliamentary speaker.

He is famous for starting out as a low-level official in the Ministry of Home Affairs at the young age of 26, rising up to be minister himself. Kim then secured many important positions under presidents Chun Doo-hwan, Roh Tae-woo and Kim Young-sam. In April of 1998 during the ruling coalition period he left the Grand National Party to join JP in the United Liberal Democrats. He is married and has three sons and two daughters.

Kim graduated from Seoul National University, majoring in Law. He has been minister of Home Affairs, minister of Political Affairs, floor leader of the DJP, chairman of policy in the New Korea Party, and acting president of the United Liberal Democrats.

by Chun Young-ki