Big Reforms Pledged in Assembly

Chairman Kim Joong-kwon said Thursday that his ruling party will push through major reforms, including changes in the National Security Law, at the coming parliamentary session.

Mr. Kim said that the Millennium Democratic Party will take advantage of the 218th extra session opening Monday to "work to amend and pass laws such as the National Security Law and the Human Rights and the Anti-Corruption bills, eradicating the remnants of the past."

At the same time, he called on the opposition to jointly commit to a "year free of parliamentary wrangle."

"The National Assembly should not be a place of exhausting partisan wrangle, but always remain open to work for the voters. I propose that the ruling and opposition camps jointly pledge to a year free of partisan gridlock on the floor," Mr. Kim said at a news conference.

Reform of the National Security Law looms as a source of partisan rift. The law bans South Koreans from contact with North Koreans without government permission and prohibits supporting and praising North Korea. The opposition, and the ruling party's coalition partner, the United Liberal Democrats, oppose revision.

Mr. Kim stressed that the ruling party will give priority to issues concerning the public welfare and economy.

Political observers suspected that Mr. Kim's proposal is designed to seize leadership against the opposition, which said this week that it will return to the floor. The opposition leader, Lee Hoi-chang, said that his party would cooperate with the ruling coalition on such issues as the economy and public welfare. Mr. Lee also said that he will recognize the United Liberal Democrats, the ruling party's coalition partner, as a legitimate parliamentary group.

Neither camp has given any indication of reaching a solution to the issue of the alleged funneling of spy agency funds in 1996 to the then-ruling party, which is now the opposition.

by Choi Hoon