2 of 3 Kims Gang Up To Reshape Political Election Landscape

Former President Kim Young-sam met with Kim Jong-pil, honorary president of the United Liberal Democrats, late Sunday night, reportedly agreeing to integrate their political power bases over stages to prepare for June local elections and the December presidential election next year.

Political analysts construed the meeting, the second in less than a month, as the first step toward the two forming a new conservative political party to face off with both President Kim Dae-jung's Millennium Democratic Party and the opposition Grand National Party.

Kim Jong-pil visited Kim Young-sam at his residence in Sangdo-dong, Seoul. The head of the former junior ruling coalition partner was expecting the former president's assessment of his plans for political realignment, which he gave to Kim Young-sam on Sept. 24.

Sources close to both sides said the two political bosses will work together to recruit a "third figure" candidate to field as their planned political party's presidential hopeful in the December 2002 election.

The former president enjoys a large following in his home region of South Kyongsang province; Kim Jong-pil has a strong power base in the Chungchong provinces.

The two have set out to expand their turf by looking beyond their usual loyalists. Kim Jong-pil is courting possible allies such as former Prime Minister Lee Soo-sung and Park Geun-hye, vice president of the opposition party and a relative by marriage.

Kim Young-sam met on Thursday with Representatives Kim Deog-ryong, Suh Chung-won and Kang Sam-jae and seven other former members of his political party, the Democratic Liberal Party.

The response from both the governing and main opposition parties was varied. Front-running presidential hopefuls, Representatives Rhee In-je and Hahn Hwa-kap of the Millennium Democratic Party, expressed caution, saying they do not have enough information to comment. Other Millennium Democrats welcomed the alliance.

"As long as they do not coalesce with the Grand National Party, our party does not have anything to lose, right?" Song Hun-suk, the party's first vice floor leader said.

Kwon Chul-hyun, the opposition party's spokesman, played down the significance of the meeting.

"Surely people can meet," Mr. Kwon said.

Representative Byun Ung-jun, the United Liberal Democrats' spokesman, agreed, saying there was nothing special to report.

by Lee Yang-soo