Opposition party leader proposes policy alliance for reform drive

By Kim Eun-jung
SEOUL, Nov. 23 (Yonhap) -- The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) on Monday
asked a splinter opposition bloc to forge a "policy alliance" to help the
working-class people suffering economic hardships.
Chung Sye-kyun, the DP chief, at the same time challenged President Lee Myung-bak
to a televised debate on his controversial four rivers restoration project.
"People are in great suffering and pain," Rep. Chung said at his party's senior
leaders' meeting. "We propose a policy alliance in education and social welfare
sectors."
Halving college tuition and halting a steep fall in the price of rice are urgent
issues requiring such an alliance, he said.
Speaking on the government's controversial four rivers project and attempts to
revise plans to relocate ministries to the new "Sejong City," Chung proposed a TV
debate with the president on the issues.
"If President Lee really has confidence (in those plans), then let's discuss what
is right and wrong in a one-on-one TV debate," Chung said.
The DP is against the river project, which would spend 22.2 trillion won (US$19
billion) by 2012 to dredge the waterways and beautify their banks, arguing it is
not economically viable and will entail significant environmental damage.
Opposition lawmakers also demand the government stick to the original Sejong City
plan initiated by former President Roh Moo-hyun to relocate key government
offices to the central region for balanced national growth.
ejkim@yna.co.kr
(END)