Courting Their Elders

Presidential hopefuls for the 2002 election, who initially set out to separate themselves from the older political bosses, are now courting them as the candidates begin raising money to finance their campaigns.

Representative Rhee In-je, the leading candidate from the ruling Millennium Democratic Party, said "The three Kims were our destiny," in a speech Tuesday at the Society for the Study of Citizens' Politics, a group affiliated with the ruling camp. "The three Kims" refers to President Kim Dae-jung, former President Kim Young-sam and Kim Jong-pil, leader of the United Liberal Democrats.

In the 1997 presidential election, Mr. Rhee drew the ire of Kim Young-sam and Kim Jong-pil with a call for a generational change in Korean politics.

Although not known for his reticence, Mr. Rhee was silent when later asked about Kim Young-sam branding him a traitor.

Representative Kim Keun-tae, another possible ruling party candidate, defended the former president's record in an interview with Polcom, a Korean political Web site.

"Kim Young-sam has many citizens worried," he said, referring to Mr. Kim's often-controversial opinions on a wide range of issues. "But we need to remember his contribution to Korea's democracy."

The representative also played down any role the former president might have had in triggering the financial crisis in 1997.

"The nation's economic difficulties came about because we did not do away with the remnants of development-oriented authoritarian rule," he said. "But many have cast too much blame on Kim Young-sam."

Aides to Lee Hoi-chang, leader of the opposition Grand National Party and its leading presidential contender, said they are urging him to court the aging political leaders.

Representative Park Geun-hye, vice president of the Grand National Party and daughter of former President Park Chung Hee, visited Kim Young-sam on April 13 and reportedly plans to meet with former President Roh Tae-woo on Tuesday.

by Choi Hoon