2 Representatives Make Moves With Eyes on Presidential Race

Representatives Rhee In-je and Kim Keun-tae, both of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party, were trying to drum up support for their respective bids for the party ticket in the 2002 presidential elections.

The two members of the ruling party's Supreme Council pushed the controversial issue of amending the constitution to allow for a two-term U.S.-style presidency and vice presidency.

Taking the lead, Mr. Rhee brought up the issue at a rally of his supporters in southern Seoul.

"We should change the constitution to make the presidential and parliamentary terms four years," he proposed. "And we should hold the presidential, general and local elections in the same years."

Mr. Rhee said his proposal would create more political stability. "If we do not revise the constitution now, the next president will have face general elections just 14 months after being inaugurated," he said.

The strongest opposition candidate, Lee Hoi-chang, remains opposed to the revision.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kim opened a think tank, the Korean Peninsula Foundation, on Tuesday.

At the launch party, held at the 63 Building in Yeouido, Mr. Kim said that the next president should be trustworthy and able to exercise democratic leadership.

"Leadership should be assumed by a new figure, free from divisive regionalism, one-man rule and dubious political funds," said Mr. Kim, a long-time democracy activist.

He said the constitutional amendment and transparency in political funding top his agenda.

Analysts said Mr. Kim wants to differentiate himself from candidates who are considered apostles of the so-called "three Kims," President Kim Dae-jung, former President Kim Young-sam and Kim Jong-pil.

by Choi Hoon