Kim Jong-pil fears 'danger' in Roh vote

United Liberal Democrat Chairman Kim Jong-pil yesterday all but announced his support for the Grand National Party's presidential candidate, Lee Hoi-chang.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Mr. Kim said he does not "want progressive elements running rampant in this land." He qualified his statement by saying there was nothing wrong with being progressive. "But there is a certain danger to them," he said, "and we should be on the lookout."

Mr. Kim was asked his reaction to Representative Rhee In-je's comment that the candidate for Millennium Democratic Party, Roh Moo-hyun, was a "radical liberal." Mr. Rhee left the MDP on Sunday; he had run for the party's presidential nomination earlier in the year, dropping out of the race as Mr. Roh went on to win. "I am not satisfied with either of them," Mr. Kim said.

Mr. Kim has been around Korean politics for a long time but his party, the ULD, has been dwindling recently as several members switched to other parties. But Mr. Kim also previewed a coming addition yesterday, saying that Mr. Rhee would soon join the party. A key member in the party leadership said Mr. Rhee would be offered the post of acting chairman.

Mr. Kim's statement in apparent endorsement of Mr. Lee comes as other major political figures align with the more conservative of the candidates. Former President Kim Young-sam and GNP Representative Park Geun-hye, who returned to the party after reconciling with Mr. Lee, have both thrown their support to Mr. Lee.

Mr. Roh, however, continues to lead in the public opinion polls conducted by both major parties. The only clear endorsement of his candidacy has come from Chung Mong-joon of National Alliance 21, who gave up his own candidacy to present a unified front against Mr. Lee.

by Chung Young-gi, Park Shin-hong