DP leader vows to reform party

His facial expression stiffened and his words were bold and full of determination.

In his remarks following his party`s victory in the Oct. 28 by-elections, Rep. Chung Sye-kyun, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party, repeatedly emphasized the need for a "drastic transformation" of the party.

"I have come to a conclusion that now is the time to newly start our party. We must not hesitate or fear any upcoming hardships to win the hearts of the people," Chung said during a meeting with its Supreme Council members yesterday.

Chung`s party took three out of the five available seats in the by-elections last week. With the ruling party only managing to take two of its strongholds, the victory has enabled Chung to become the longest-serving opposition leader as well as a potential DP presidential candidate.

Claiming that the next six months or so, ahead of the June elections, will be a test for not only the DP but Chung himself, he declared his intention to go head-to-head with the ruling Grand National Party and President Lee Myung-bak`s administration.



"I believe a sweeping change is needed for our party to be able to take part in the fight. I vow to achieve drastic transformation in the DP," said Chung, stating that he will not hesitate to change decade-old policies for the party`s benefit.

The transformation will be made through resetting the DP`s vision, leadership and new policies through self-reflection and a review of past misconducts.

He also pledged to cut the budget of the four-river restoration project and instead spend more on education and welfare.

"Educational investment should become a priority, which indicates that it must be expanded to its greatest extent. I say this in the belief that it is the most definite method to invest in the nation`s future," he said.

Although a large number of DP lawmakers posted requests for Chung and three other DP legislators - who resigned from their seats in protest of the unilateral passage of media laws - to return to the National Assembly, Chung showed little interest, further exercising his activities outside of the parliament.

Following a trip to the construction site of Sejong City in South Chungcheong Province on Sunday, he and about 100 other DP officials, including three newly-elected DP legislators, paid a visit to late President Kim Dae-jung`s grave in the National Cemetery early yesterday morning.

"The DP will become a party that can offer hope to the people through drastic transformation," Chung wrote on Kim`s visitors` board.

The opposition`s leader will continue his out-of-parliament moves by stopping by late President Roh Moo-hyun`s grave in Bonghwa village in South Gyeongsang Province today and then will head to the most-recently contested constituencies in Yangsan of South Gyeongsang Province and Eumseong of North Chungcheong Province later in the day.

He will also tour Jangan in Suwon and Sangrok in Ansan, both in Gyeonggi Province, along with Eumseong of North Chungcheong Province, all of which the DP claimed victory in.

(sharon@heraldm.com)



By Cho Ji-hyun