President-elect hails NGO help

President-elect Roh Moo-hyun said yesterday his election victory would have been impossible without civic groups' support.

At a New Year gathering of civic groups, Mr. Roh called nongovernmental groups the driving force of Korean society. "I aim to raise political awareness to the standards of our citizens," said Mr. Roh.

The president-elect's visit came as his team struggles to expand his support base. Mr. Roh's Millennium Democratic Party lacks a majority in the National Assembly, making its prospects for pushing forward with reforms dim. Mr. Roh's aides hope that the nongovernmental groups will back the president-elect's reform plans, putting pressure on the opposition Grand National Party to go along.

Mr. Roh has filled the bulk of his transition committee posts with personnel from nongovernment groups. He repeatedly instructed his transition team to consult with civic groups before determining the direction of policy. A number of NGOs will be named to an advisory group within the transition subgroup compiling and monitoring public comments through the Internet, committee associates said. A transition team document stresses the importance of forming "a wholesome network with civic and social groups and online media."

The transition committee is also seeking to at least neutralize, if not convert, groups hostile to Mr. Roh. According to a transition committee document obtained by the JoongAng Ilbo yesterday, the committee seeks to persuade those who opposed Mr. Roh during the election or those distancing themselves because of ideological differences to support the president-elect.

The committee said it wants to use unofficial dialogue channels to achieve nation solidarity beyond region, class, ideology and generation. The nation's conglomerates, military personnel and several press companies were among those the committee considers unfriendly to the new administration. Committee members said unofficial discussions between the president-elect's camp and those "hostile powers" should be faithfully reflected in establishing policies and resolve pending issues.

A committee member noted that Mr. Roh instructed them to actively engage those of differing interests and ideologies.

Mr. Roh is said to be considering meeting leaders of the Grand National Party before his inauguration Feb. 25 and promoting regular MDP-GNP meetings.

by Seo Seung-wook