Kim Regrets Picking Ahn; Defers Action

President Kim Dae-jung, in his first steps to quell the turmoil rocking his party, expressed regret on Friday over the ill-fated appointment of Ahn Dong-su as justice minister and retained his party chairman.

"In appointing Mr. Ahn, whom I have known for the past decade, I took into consideration his integrity and his abilities as a human rights lawyer," Mr. Kim said. "But I regret that the result has not been good."

Mr. Ahn was forced out of office last week after just 43 hours on the job, when questions arose about his integrity. Junior members of Mr. Kim's Millennium Democratic Party have since been in revolt, demanding more open procedures for handling personnel appointments.

Mr. Kim said that he would call the nine Supreme Council members to Chong Wa Dae on Monday, for intensive discussion of changes in the party and government leaderships. The implication was that he will take his time to make any definitive moves.

"I will reflect the suggestions in running the government and party after I take a thorough look at them," Mr. Kim said.

The party chairman, Kim Joong-kwon, tendered his resignation Friday as he delivered demands for the replacement of presidential aides from some 120 Millennium Democrats at Thursday's party workshop. At the meeting two groups formed, an Old Guard represented by the Donggyo-dong faction of Kim loyalists and insurgent first- and second-term lawmakers.

Party members sparred over assigning blame for Mr. Ahn's appointment. But the reformers' principal complaint was about the behind-the-scenes power wielded by the Donggyo-dong members. The session continued well into the night, before agreement was reached that the Blue House aides should be replaced. The legislators also agreed that the slide in public support for the Kim administration was alarming, but differed on what to do about it.

Political watchers forecast that the president would take some concrete steps early next week, after meeting with the nine Supreme Council members.

Predictions ranged from a simple streamlining of the party command line to a change of party leadership, including the Supreme Council members as well as the presidential aides. Political watchers weighed the political costs and benefits for the president in the second half of his five-year tenure.

Meanwhile, presidential aides met Friday to discuss whether they should tender their resignations. The aides, mostly traditionalist Donggyo-dong members, dismissed the idea, deciding that it would only burden the president.

The insurgents, led by Representative Chung Dong-young, expressed satisfaction that an opportunity for party change was at hand.

by Kim Chong-hyuk