Kim to Give His Party More Political Say-So

A senior Blue House official said Sunday that President Kim Dae-jung will devote himself to strengthening national competitiveness and resuscitating the failing economy during the remainder of his term. He plans, the aide said, to delegate more political responsibilities to the Supreme Council of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party.

The official added that Mr. Kim will outline the plan when he convenes the council on Monday to discuss the results of last week's party workshop.

The workshop was held after calls by junior lawmakers that the party leadership and the Blue House lineup be overhauled in the wake of a recent series of policy and management decisions widely criticized as failures.

The official also said the president plans to broaden the channels through which opinions are heard within the party by holding a Supreme Council meeting every month and by meeting with ruling party lawmakers and local chapter heads every two months.

However, the president will continue to mull over the demand from junior lawmakers that the Blue House staff be replaced, according to the staffer, who added that the president's intention is to keep the Supreme Council at the center of decision-making within the ruling party.

"Since the president reappointed Kim Joong-kwon, the party chairman, and Han Kwang-ok, the chief of presidential staff, despite the turmoil, large-scale personnel changes are unlikely for the time being," another party official said.

Even after last week's party workshop, party members said the division between senior and junior lawmakers remained stark.

"We shouldn't meddle with the president's power to appoint officials," said Park Sang-cheon, a Supreme Council member.

But Chung Dong-young, the councilor who led the revolt against party elders last week said, "This is our last chance to regain fading public support."

by Kim Jin-kook