Roh vows new politics of trust

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Roh vows new politics of trust

President-elect Roh Moo-hyun said yesterday that he would launch a new politics, anchored in principles and trust, and bring peace and prosperity to the Korean Peninsula. Mr. Roh of the Millennium Democratic Party beat Lee Hoi-chang of the Grand National Party in Thursday's election.

At a press conference for domestic and foreign reporters, Mr. Roh presented his blueprint for relations with North Korea and the United States, and his plans for conglomerate reforms.

"The traditional alliance and friendship between South Korea and the United States should mature and develop further in the 21st century," he said. "South Korea-U.S. ties should move beyond the government level and deepen through true understanding and cooperation between the peoples of the two countries."

Mr. Roh promised that the basic tone of bilateral ties and the framework of President Kim Dae-jung's foreign policies would continue.

"As to the pending issues between South Korea and the United States, including the revision of the SOFA, I will deliver the strong expectations of my position to the South Korean government and the U.S. government," he said. Acquittal of two U.S. soldiers in the deaths of two girls triggered widespread anti-American protests, calling for revision of the Status of Forces Agreement governing U.S. troops here.

Mr. Roh said he would reform business groups gradually to correct the Korean economy, but market reforms would continue. He made clear that he intended to change the vertical decision-making of the corporations and said he would deal with the ceiling on conglomerates' investments in other companies, but gave no specifics.

Observers, noting that the Roh administration will lack a majority in the National Assembly, forecast moderate, cautious reforms.

Mr. Roh said he would remake his party. "The principles of separating the party and government affairs should be observed," he said, "but I cannot ignore people's yearning for political reform."

Mr. Roh began his takeover of the administration yesterday after the National Election Commission issued the certification of his election. He will meet President Kim Dae-jung Monday to discuss the transition. President Kim congratulated him and sent orchids through Park Jie-won, Blue House chief of staff, and Jo Sun-yong, the senior presidential secretary for political affairs. Mr. Roh named Lee Nak-yon, the MDP spokesman, as his spokesman and Shin Geh-ryoon, as chief of staff.

He said he would organize a committee to take over the administration. Unlike President Kim, who took up some duties promptly to counter the 1997 financial crisis, Mr. Roh's transition will proceed smoothly, Mr. Lee said. He said the president-elect is considering organizing an advisory group to fine-tune policies with the government.

Political observers predict that young, reform-minded MDP lawmakers Shin Ki-nam, Chun Jung-bae, Chung Dong-young and Choo Mi-ae will lead the party reforms. They had called for drawing a line between President Kim Dae-jung and the party. Such a move might result in conflict with the Donggyo-dong faction, loyal to President Kim. Mr. Roh's vow to hold party members responsible for corruption both legally and politically has been reportedly targeted at that faction.

Twenty security guards dispatched from the Blue House checked every visitor at the entrance of the MDP headquarters in Yeouido, western Seoul. Mr. Roh, however, refused to ride in the bulletproof vehicle provided by the Blue House, saying he is more comfortable with his secretary who has driven his car for 15 years.

by Choi Hoon

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