Kim Tells Party Brass To Play Stronger Role

Reeling from his sinking popularity, President Kim Dae-jung delegated a more pronounced role in party affairs － particularly in domestic policy － to the ruling Millennium Democratic Party's Supreme Council on Monday.

But he postponed making any changes to party operations or leadership for a week.

"I ask for active leadership by the Supreme Council in party affairs," Mr. Kim said at a Blue House meeting. "I will unveil the blueprint for changes within the party at a June 13 news conference, which will mark the first anniversary of the June 15 North-South Summit."

Asserting that demands by junior legislators for personnel changes are "about a president's inherent rights," Mr. Kim said he would consider these opinions when outlining his decisions.

The first and second term legislators leading the drive for change within the party took the president's words as a sign he is listening to their ideas.

Junior representatives are often bypassed in the decision-making process in Korean party politics, which is ruled by senior faction leaders.

"It is worth noting that the president has embraced our ideas," said Representative Lee Jong-kul, one of the eight Millennium Democratic Party members who initiated the internal drive for change.

Analysts took the decision as an expedient political choice made by a president rendered increasingly ineffective by his plunging popularity and the waning of his five-year term.

President Kim said he will continue to take charge of reviving the economy and stalled efforts for inter-Korean reconciliation, but more authority will be delegated to the party's top brass.

Mr. Kim promised to hold a monthly meeting of the council at the Blue House and to talk frequently with party members. The council comprises nine members appointed by the president, the party chief.

Representative Chung Dong-young, the highest-ranking of the junior Millennium Democrats and a council member, continued to push for changes, such as curbing the influence of senior leaders of the Donggyo-dong faction.

The faction is led by long-time supporters of the president, many of whom hail from his home province.

The appointment on May 21 of Ahn Dong-su as justice minister re-ignited the dormant internal feud between the Donggyo-dong faction and the group of mostly first- and second-term lawmakers.

Ahn resigned his post after 43 hours in office over a letter of loyalty he wrote to the president.

by Kim Jin-kook