Opposition Holds Anti-Gov't Outdoor Rally

The opposition Grand National Party (GNP) held an outdoor rally in Inchon on Sunday to call for investigation into two of the most serious charges leveled against the Kim Dae-jung administration recently. These are the ruling party's alleged obstruction of a probe into campaign spending during the last parliamentary elections and the illegal loan scandal at Hanvit Bank.

The ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) condemned the rally, saying "it only destabilizes our society," and called for a speedy end to the opposition's boycott of the National Assembly.

Some 120 GNP lawmakers, party members and members of the public attended the rally. Lee Hoi-chang, GNP president, criticized the way the administration has handled the scandals, accusing Kim Dae-jung of "protecting those guilty of grave crimes against the Korean people."

The opposition also called for the immediate resignation of Culture and Tourism Minister Park Jie-won, allegedly implicated in the illegal lending scandal at Hanvit Bank. The opposition backed up its claim by quoting the Hanvit Bank vice president's comment that Minister Park phoned him three times.

In response MDP floor leader Chung Kyun-whan advised the opposition party to "return to the National Assembly before public criticism becomes insurmountable."

by Ko Jeong-ae