Roh gets the MDP nod in Seoul primary romp

Roh Moo-hyun won the Millennium Democratic Party's presidential nomination after sweeping the party's Seoul primary Saturday. (Analysis, Page 2.)

"I will ask all those working for reform who are now scattered by regional fissures to join together, centered around the Millennium Democratic Party," Mr. Roh, 56, told reporters Sunday. He reaffirmed his campaign pledge of a major political realignment.

"Changes for a new order will begin in all circles of politics," Mr. Roh emphasized on Saturday after Seoul voters gave him their nod.

Mr. Roh, a former human rights lawyer and maritime affairs and fisheries minister, said he plans to visit the Blue House on Monday afternoon to meet with President Kim Dae-jung. He said he would also visit former President Kim Young-sam at the latter's private residence on Saturday. The former president still holds considerable sway in the the Gyeongsang region in particular in South Gyeongsang province where about 30 percent of Korean voters live. Mr. Roh reportedly will ask both the president and former president to support his bid to succeed them.

Grand National Party spokesman Nam Kyung-pil attacked Mr. Roh's call for a political shake-up, calling it "a conspiracy to form authority through manipulated restructuring and to create a new party centered around President Kim Dae-jung."

In a no-surprise landslide victory Saturday, Mr. Roh won 17,568 votes in Seoul, 72 percent of the tally, over Chung Dong-young, the only other candidate of seven starters who lasted through the party's 15 earlier primary elections and made it to the Seoul finale. In his acceptance speech, Mr. Roh said he would make Korea a country where "all could live well." He said he would harmonize economic growth with distribution of social wealth.

The party also elected new leaders Saturday. Hahn Hwa-kap, a party adviser and a longtime supporter of President Kim Dae-jung, was named party president after winning 58 percent of the 12,069 party member's votes.

Lee Hoi-chang, a 1997 presidential contender, rolled to victory in the Grand National Party primary in Changweon, South Gyeongsan province Sunday. He polled 74 percent of the votes there.

by Kim Chong-hyuk, Kang Min-seok