Lee seeks party unity on Sejong plan
Published: 30 Nov. 2009, 22:25
In a breakfast meeting with the Grand National Party’s senior members, President Lee Myung-bak said yesterday the government will speed the presentation of a new development blueprint for Sejong City, urging the ruling party to unite and cooperate with the administration to implement the changes.
Members of the GNP Supreme Council attended the meeting at the Blue House. Lee emphasized that it is crucial for Korea to mend internal discord over the plan, said party spokeswoman Cho Yoon-sun.
“I am troubled that out society has seen conflicts over various issues including Sejong City and the four major rivers restoration project,” Lee was quoted as saying by Cho. “I am concerned because Korea is caught up with internal conflicts, while the world is in fierce competition to excel.”
Lee said his government will create a new development plan for Sejong City as soon as possible and present it to the people. “The government and the ruling party must cooperate in creating the new plan, and I want the party to be united for that,” he said.
Not only society has been split over Lee’s plan to redraw the blueprint. The Grand National Party has also been split, and Park Geun-hye, the party’s former chairwoman and President Lee’s political rival, has opposed Lee’s decision. At the breakfast meeting, where Park was absent, Lee urged the Grand Nationals to unite.
“The most important thing is the unity within the party,” Lee said. Arguing that the party has no factions, Lee said “We must prove that to the people and the media by resolving this situation through party unity.”
The atmosphere was amicable, as pro-Park members who joined the meeting spoke softly about the internal debate. Representative Huh Tae-yeol, a Park loyalist, told Lee that the administration should find a solution that will not be opposed by the nation, particularly residents of Chungcheong. Lee replied, “Let’s find a win-win path,” according to Cho.
Park, who is not a member of the GNP Supreme Council, did not attend the breakfast, but she will meet with Lee today at the state dinner for the visiting Hungarian president.
Lee also urged the ruling party to push forward the four rivers project at the National Assembly sessions to ratify a budget for the programs. He also encouraged the lawmakers to approve the budget bill in time, saying that the legislature’s prompt action at the end of last year contributed greatly to the government’s implementation of fiscal stimulus measures in the aftermath of the economic meltdown.
Cho said the breakfast was from 7:30 a.m. until 9:05 a.m., and Lee met with GNP Chairman Chung Mong-joon alone for 20 minutes.
By Ser Myo-ja [[email protected]]
Members of the GNP Supreme Council attended the meeting at the Blue House. Lee emphasized that it is crucial for Korea to mend internal discord over the plan, said party spokeswoman Cho Yoon-sun.
“I am troubled that out society has seen conflicts over various issues including Sejong City and the four major rivers restoration project,” Lee was quoted as saying by Cho. “I am concerned because Korea is caught up with internal conflicts, while the world is in fierce competition to excel.”
Lee said his government will create a new development plan for Sejong City as soon as possible and present it to the people. “The government and the ruling party must cooperate in creating the new plan, and I want the party to be united for that,” he said.
Not only society has been split over Lee’s plan to redraw the blueprint. The Grand National Party has also been split, and Park Geun-hye, the party’s former chairwoman and President Lee’s political rival, has opposed Lee’s decision. At the breakfast meeting, where Park was absent, Lee urged the Grand Nationals to unite.
“The most important thing is the unity within the party,” Lee said. Arguing that the party has no factions, Lee said “We must prove that to the people and the media by resolving this situation through party unity.”
The atmosphere was amicable, as pro-Park members who joined the meeting spoke softly about the internal debate. Representative Huh Tae-yeol, a Park loyalist, told Lee that the administration should find a solution that will not be opposed by the nation, particularly residents of Chungcheong. Lee replied, “Let’s find a win-win path,” according to Cho.
Park, who is not a member of the GNP Supreme Council, did not attend the breakfast, but she will meet with Lee today at the state dinner for the visiting Hungarian president.
Lee also urged the ruling party to push forward the four rivers project at the National Assembly sessions to ratify a budget for the programs. He also encouraged the lawmakers to approve the budget bill in time, saying that the legislature’s prompt action at the end of last year contributed greatly to the government’s implementation of fiscal stimulus measures in the aftermath of the economic meltdown.
Cho said the breakfast was from 7:30 a.m. until 9:05 a.m., and Lee met with GNP Chairman Chung Mong-joon alone for 20 minutes.
By Ser Myo-ja [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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