South Korea’s conservative Saenuri Party on Monday tried to appease the progressive-leaning southwestern Honam region, claiming the party is open to establishing closer political ties.

“I would like to make an apology to (the Honam people) for any wrongdoing by the party, as well as its predecessors, for discrimination and hurting the dignity of the people of the region, both intentionally and inadvertently,” Lee Jung-hyun, who heads the Saenuri, said during a parliamentary speech.
 

Honam refers to the North and South Jeolla provinces and the metropolitan city of Gwangju. The area is normally compared with the conservative-leaning Yeongnam region that covers North and South Gyeongsang provinces and major cities such as Busan, Daegu and Ulsan.

“Honam is not a progressive, aggressive or radical area. It is not owned by a single party,” Lee said, adding Saenuri wishes to reconcile with residents of the area.

On the controversial deployment of a US anti-missile defense system, Lee said opposition parties must make efforts to expand cooperation for the greater cause.

“It is regrettable that some politicians are abusing security issues to divide the public, amid the continuing nuclear provocations and the launch of submarine-launched ballistic missiles by North Korea,” Lee said.

“I hope opposition parties will form a new tradition in which they expand cooperation on nationally crucial issues like the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system and cyberterrorism,” he added.

Lee added the party would also like to propose making a special commission that looks back on the 70-year history of the National Assembly to make innovative reforms.

(Yonhap)