2 Opposition Leaders United on Some Issues

Lee Hoi-chang, president of the opposition Grand National Party, and Kim Jong-pil, honorary president of the minor opposition United Liberal Democrats, continued working together on several issues during a party review of the ongoing parliamentary hearings.

The two leaders arranged a meeting Friday between Representative Lee Jae-oh, floor leader of the Grand National Party, and Representative Lee One-ku, floor leader of the United Liberal Democrats, to discuss the inter-Korean cooperation fund. They will also discuss amending the laws governing broadcasting and professors and teachers.

The parties agree that the National Assembly should have more say in how money from the cooperation fund is spent. They also agree that the nine members of the Assembly's broadcasting committee should be recommended according to the number of seats each party holds and that the retirement age of professors and teachers should be raised from 62 to 63.

Because the two parties control 146 of the 273 seats in the Assemby, it is simply a question of when the amendments will be passed, political watchers said.

The ruling Millennium Democratic Party, now forced to operate with a minority, is on alert. "If the opposition parties push for unreasonable amendments, we will gather all forces to block it," said Lee Sang-soo, the ruling party floor leader, referring to the president's veto power.

"If the opposition parties try to amend the law to impose restrictions to the inter-Korean cooperation fund, which is important to the sunshine policy, they are undermining our party's policies and the desires of the majority of the people," said Mr. Lee, the ruling party floor leader.

by Choi Sang-yeon