Kim Jong-il Heavy Drinker: President Kim

President Kim Dae-jung met with former presidents Choi Kyu-hah and Chun Doo-hwan, along with Chairman of the National Assembly Lee Man-sup, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Choi Jong-young, Prime Minister designate Lee Han-dong, and head of the National Election Commission Lee Yong-hoon at a luncheon on June 16 to discuss the president's summit talks with Kim Jong-il.

Park Joon-young, spokesperson for the MDP, conveyed that President Kim asked his guests to "support the progressive relationship between South and North." Park also said that the participants congratulated the president and had kind words for each other.

"Congratulations all around for arriving at a consensus on the North Korean issue, to promote reconciliation and cooperation as a common people. Keep up with follow-up measures so that the changes can contribute to Korean history," a minister said at the luncheon.

President Kim had this to say of Kim Jong-il, "He was a heavy drinker. He drank his share of western liquor in the past, he told me, but his doctor had recommended that he switch to wine." Kim added, "I wanted to return (to South Korea) by land but returned to Seoul by air for security reasons."

President Kim is planning to hold an additional meeting for former presidents Kim Young-sam and Roh Tae-woo, who couldn't make it to the luncheon as they are currently in China on an unofficial visit.

by Koh Jung-ae