Rep. Chung selected for GNP leadership

Four-term Grand National Party lawmaker Chung Eui-hwa was selected as a member of the ruling GNP`s decision-making Supreme Council during a party meeting yesterday.

The seat was left empty after former GNP Chairman Park Hee-tae stepped down from his post to run for a constituency in South Gyeongsang Province in the October by-elections. Supreme Council member Chung Mong-joon replaced Park as party chairman.

Chung, who has also taken part in the race to pick the party`s floor leader in May, is grouped with the faction loyal to President Lee Myung-bak. However, he has not received the thumbs down from legislators close to former GNP Chairwoman Park Geun-hye.

Chung is currently in charge of the party`s special committee involving the Sejong City development project and the committee responsible for recruiting new brains into the ruling party.

"As the party`s support rate shows, we can`t neglect the fact that more than half of the people are turning away from the GNP. This indicates that the task we`re facing is too big and heavy for us to overlook," he said.

"We also can`t accomplish anything without uniting the party and I will take the lead in facilitating the communication process within the party."

(sharon@heraldm.com)





By Cho Ji-hyun