Ruling and Opposition Parties to Hold High-Level Talks

In order to normalize operations of the National Assembly, which has been closed for about two weeks, the ruling Millenium Democratic Party (MDP) decided today to hold a senior level meeting with the opposition Grand National Party (GNP) and the United Liberal Democrats.

The decision was made at a party workshop held at the Academy House in northern Seoul. The proposed meeting will comprise of floor leaders from the three major political parties as well as their senior party officials and vice-presidents.

MDP spokesperson, Park Byeong-seog, said, "All pressing issues will be discussed at the meeting and our party will accept opposition demands as long as they are rational ones."

An MDP official added that the spokesperson's comment essentially means that the MDP is ready for a parliamentary investigation into the Hanvit Bank scandal. However, Park reiterated his party's previous position that introducing a special prosecutor is not an option.

As for Culture and Tourism Minister Park Jie-won, who is implicated in the Hanvit Bank loan scandal, most participants at the meeting were of an opinion that he should be dealt with according to the results of a thorough investigation by the prosecution.

As for the medical crisis, Park Sang-cheon, a senior MDP official, said: "Health care reform should gradually procede. We might try the Japanese system in which patients get to choose whether to buy medicine from hospitals or pharmacies."

by Lee Yang-soo