ID :
100932
Mon, 01/18/2010 - 17:45
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/100932
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Ruling party woes intensify over Sejong City
By Tony Chang
SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Yonhap) -- Internal strife within the ruling Grand National Party
(GNP) over the government's plan to erect a "business and science hub" in the
country's central region heightened Monday as a former party chairwoman slammed
the current head for supporting the disputed project.
The government announced its decision to reverse an initiative first put forth by
the previous administration to relocate a number of key government bodies to
Sejong City in South Chungcheong Province, some 150 kilometers south of Seoul.
Under the proposed revisions, the new city would be turned into a business and
science hub, with several leading South Korean conglomerates already having
agreed to set up operations there.
The decision to scrap the original plan caused a political uproar among
opposition parties, Chungcheong residents and a minor GNP faction whose loyalty
lies with Park Geun-hye, a former presidential contender who ran against
President Lee Myung-bak for the GNP ticket in 2007.
Park, the daughter of former President Park Chung-hee and a former head of the
GNP, has said that she is in favor of honoring the original plan, presented by
the administration of former President Roh Moo-hyun to promote balanced national
growth. Park is a favorite in upcoming presidential elections in 2012.
Taking direct aim at Chung Mong-joon, the current GNP chief, Park told reporters
the chairman should "be held responsible for losing the people's faith" by
supporting the revision.
"I remember that (Chung) once mentioned that the party's position on the plan
remained unchanged," Park said, slamming Chung and the party's leadership for
endorsing the proposed revisions.
The former chairwoman also said that it would be a mistake to assume that
"proponents of the revision are patriots and that supporters of the original plan
do not love their country."
Revisions to an already existing bill pertaining to the original plan must be
approved by more than half of sitting lawmakers. Without support from Park and
her approximately 50 followers within and outside the GNP, the plan will face
difficulty gaining approval in the National Assembly.
At present, the GNP controls 169 seats in the 299-member unicameral house,
compared with the main opposition Democratic Party's 87 seats.
Chung, meanwhile, responded to Park's comments, arguing she may have reacted
excessively to his public endorsement of the plan.
"She has stated that I, as the current head of the party, shouldn't have
(publicly) endorsed the government plan. I think this (comment) may have been a
bit excessive (response)," Chung told Yonhap News Agency
"Just as former Chairwoman Park has made clear her opposition to the plan, anyone
should be able to express their opinion, but, hopefully, without unnecessarily
aggravating others."
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Yonhap) -- Internal strife within the ruling Grand National Party
(GNP) over the government's plan to erect a "business and science hub" in the
country's central region heightened Monday as a former party chairwoman slammed
the current head for supporting the disputed project.
The government announced its decision to reverse an initiative first put forth by
the previous administration to relocate a number of key government bodies to
Sejong City in South Chungcheong Province, some 150 kilometers south of Seoul.
Under the proposed revisions, the new city would be turned into a business and
science hub, with several leading South Korean conglomerates already having
agreed to set up operations there.
The decision to scrap the original plan caused a political uproar among
opposition parties, Chungcheong residents and a minor GNP faction whose loyalty
lies with Park Geun-hye, a former presidential contender who ran against
President Lee Myung-bak for the GNP ticket in 2007.
Park, the daughter of former President Park Chung-hee and a former head of the
GNP, has said that she is in favor of honoring the original plan, presented by
the administration of former President Roh Moo-hyun to promote balanced national
growth. Park is a favorite in upcoming presidential elections in 2012.
Taking direct aim at Chung Mong-joon, the current GNP chief, Park told reporters
the chairman should "be held responsible for losing the people's faith" by
supporting the revision.
"I remember that (Chung) once mentioned that the party's position on the plan
remained unchanged," Park said, slamming Chung and the party's leadership for
endorsing the proposed revisions.
The former chairwoman also said that it would be a mistake to assume that
"proponents of the revision are patriots and that supporters of the original plan
do not love their country."
Revisions to an already existing bill pertaining to the original plan must be
approved by more than half of sitting lawmakers. Without support from Park and
her approximately 50 followers within and outside the GNP, the plan will face
difficulty gaining approval in the National Assembly.
At present, the GNP controls 169 seats in the 299-member unicameral house,
compared with the main opposition Democratic Party's 87 seats.
Chung, meanwhile, responded to Park's comments, arguing she may have reacted
excessively to his public endorsement of the plan.
"She has stated that I, as the current head of the party, shouldn't have
(publicly) endorsed the government plan. I think this (comment) may have been a
bit excessive (response)," Chung told Yonhap News Agency
"Just as former Chairwoman Park has made clear her opposition to the plan, anyone
should be able to express their opinion, but, hopefully, without unnecessarily
aggravating others."
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
