Candidate says party revision is called for

Roh Moo-hyun, a surprising contender in the governing Millennium Democratic Party's presidential primary, said Wednesday that he would shake up the political party structure should he win the party's presidential nomination.

Mr. Roh said that embracing reform-minded members of the main opposition Grand National Party would be part of his plan to create a revamped party.

The candidate's close aide said that Mr. Roh plans to integrate allies regardless of regional affiliations, just as during the democracy movement of the 1970s and 1980s political leaders of the Jeolla provinces and Gyeongsang provinces cooperated to fight military dictatorship.

But, his plan was met with resistance from his main rival in the primary.

Representative Rhee In-je, who is leading the primary so far, criticized Mr. Roh's plan as a ploy to dissolve the ruling party. "It is inappropriate for a candidate running for the ruling party primary to discuss political party realignment," he said.

Nam Kyung-pil, the GNP spokesman, said he was surprised that Mr. Roh already seemed to be assuming he would win the primary.

Kim Jong-pil, leader of the conservative United Liberal Democrats, said a two-party system with liberals on one side and conservatives on the other would be wholesome. He also implied that Mr. Roh would be a good candidate to lead the liberals.

Meanwhile, Representative Park Geun-hye, who recently left the main opposition party, rejected the idea that she may form an alliance with the ruling party.

"Mr. Roh's disposition and his support base differ widely from mine," Ms. Park said.

by Kang Min-seok