Political Advisory Group Draws Fire

The opposition Grand National Party's newly-launched National Reform Committee － and particularly its secretive meeting of advisory council members on Tuesday － is drawing criticism from the ruling Millennium Democratic Party, which took issue with the nature and the make-up of the committee.

The committee is part of an ambitious project by opposition leader Lee Hoi-chang to produce what he calls a model for 21st century governance. But critics said the committee's sole purpose is to ensure victory for Mr. Lee in the 2002 presidential elections.

While the committee has reportedly tried to woo 200 noted figures to join its advisory council, only 19 have committed to join. The 200 include former high-ranking government officials and academics. The committee is divided into seven subcommittees headed by senior opposition party officials.

Kim Joong-kwon, chairman of the ruling party, said Wednesday at a party meeting that he "will come up with strong countermeasures once we fully assess the nature of the committee."

Jeon Yong-hak, the ruling party spokesman, called for the dissolution of the committee.

Mr. Jeon said "Lee Hoi-chang only has his eyes set on the presidential elections when our parties should unify our energy to revive the economy and tend to the public welfare."

Chang Kwang-keun, a spokesman for the opposition, said "The committee's goal is to set up a long-term plan to revive the nation and the economy by learning from the mistakes of the current administration."

Political analysts compare the committee to organizations created prior to the 1992 and the 1997 presidential elections set up to direct the campaigns of the party's presidential candidates in those years.

The 19 people who have said they will join the committee include Professor Son Bong-ho of Seoul National University and Professor Jhin Duck-kyu of Ewha Womans University; both of whom reportedly attended the Tuesday meeting.

by Lee Soo-ho