Kim Loyalist Says He's Back In the Thick of Political Life

Some of Kim Dae-jung's political confidantes are roaring back into the political arena. After new Unification Minister Lim Dong-won and presidential secretary Park Jie-won were named to new government positions, another well-known loyalist, Kwon Roh-kap, a political kingpin of Mr. Kim's party, has announced his political comeback to the press. In his newly opened personal office in Mapo-gu, Mr. Kwon made it clear that he wants to be back in the thick of things.

"I will be contacting and meeting with many leading figures, including Chairman Kim Jong-pil of the United Liberal Democrats," Mr. Kwon said while disclosing a golf date planned with Mr. Kim on Sunday. Mr. Kwon said that he will also meet with Chairman Kim Yoon-whan of the Democratic People's Party.

Both those parties are allied with the ruling Millennium Democratic Party. Han Seung-soo of the splinter DPP was named foreign affairs and trade minister March 26. Political observers said that Mr. Kwon will work to consolidate the three-way coalition from behind the scenes.

A long-time loyalist and member of the president's Tonggyo-dong faction, Mr. Kwon was the de facto kingmaker in the ruling Millennium Democratic Party. He was forced to step down at the end of last year when a younger group of lawmakers called for a more democratic makeup of the party.

by Lee Jung-min