Opposition Wants Ahn To Resign For Remarks

The main opposition Grand National Party cast doubt on any possibility of bipartisan cooperation at the September session of the National Assembly. Responding to Representative Ahn Dong-seon's comments Thursday, when he branded the opposition leader "pro-Japanese," it demanded an apology from President Kim Dae-jung and Mr. Ahn's resignation.

The opposition leader also shot down Mr. Kim's proposal for a one-on-one meeting between the two party chiefs.

"I cannot help but doubt the sincerity of Mr. Kim's proposal when members of his party hurl false accusations and slander my integrity," Mr. Lee said to a crowd in Yeouido, Seoul.

Mr. Lee was referring to Mr. Ahn's remarks at a ruling Millennium Democratic Party gathering on Thursday.

Mr. Ahn, one of the president's long-time supporters, said, "Only that infidel Lee Hoi-chang did not cry at the reunion of separated families," and added, "These pro-Japanese still thrive generations later." Mr. Lee's father served as a secretary to prosecutors of the Japanese colonial government.

The ruling camp's damage control tried to smooth things over. Both Park Sang-kyu, the party's secretary-general, and Kim Joong-kwon, the party chairman, apologized and said the remarks do not reflect the party position.

Mr. Ahn apologized for calling Mr. Lee a "infidel" but went no further than that.

by Lee Soo-ho