Party Ousts Kang Over 3 Defections

Defying a party ultimatum to either accept the defection of three ruling party lawmakers or quit, Vice President Kang Chang-hee of the minor United Liberal Democrats stood his ground Thursday.

"The defection eliminates the identity of our party and subjugates it to the ruling Millennium Democratic Party," the five-term lawmaker said during a news conference.

"Accepting the lawmakers drives our party to death row," he continued.

Nor did he comply with the order to quit the party voluntarily, leading it to expel him. Mr. Kang said that he will accept the party's decision.

He has been a lone voice in refusing to accept the defection of Reps. Bae Ki-sun, Song Sok-chan and Song Young-jin to the United Liberal Democrats, an act they announced Saturday.

Their defections are generally seen as a move orchestrated by the ruling and the minor parties that will lead to a broader political alignment, including a possible merger to give the ruling party a majority in the 273-seat National Assembly.

The nation's press went so far as to describe the defection as a "loan" of the representatives to give the United Liberal Democrats the 20 seats they need to gain negotiating status without having to undertake political negotiations with the opposition Grand National Party.

But with Mr. Kang's refusal, the United Liberal Democrats failed to register as a negotiating group, lacking exactly one signature.

His decision has been keenly watched as the political arena rumbles with possible political realignment while President Kim Dae-jung's five-year tenure enters its second half, a period likely to see jostling among contenders for the 2002 presidential election.

Realignment among political parties, including the defection of individual lawmakers, has been the most common way in the nation's politics to form a power base from which candidates can attempt to ascend to the presidency.

by Kim Ji-soo