Political circle's reaction to ex-minister Kim' statement

The political circle responded positively to former commerce, industry and energy minister Kim Young-Ho's statement that a servant-like group and a corrupt and conservative force were shielding the eyes and ears of President Kim Dae-Jung. The Kim statement came in an interview with the Dong-A Ilbo dated on Nov. 13.

In particular, the opposition Grand National Party declared that his was a courageous voice, rarely heard in the political quarters these days. GNP spokesman Kwon Chul-Hyeon said on Monday that if President Kim complies with this advice and tries to salvage the situation, the opposition party, for its part, would positively cooperate with the President.

Yoo Seung-Min, director of the GNP's Yoido Research Institute, commented that ex-minister Kim rightly pointed out in his assertion late last year that the government's plan for economic stimulation was needed until the end of 1998 but its continuation of the plan has resulted in working against the government-initiated restructuring reform.

If President Kim and the economic team change their policy line as his office term is to go for more than two years, there is an ample chance for economic recovery, he noted. However, it is doubtful that the President would undertake this venture in the presence of his incumbent economic team.

On the other hand, the ruling Millennium Democratic Party expressed supportive views in general to former minister Kim and the need for strong reform drive, but it asserted that it is not right for the GNP to claim that the groups mentioned above were screening President Kim's eyes and ears.

Related officials of the Prime Minister's Office asked whether the ex-minister was really qualified to make such a criticism but that 80-90 percent of his assertion is considered right insofar as the contents of his statement goes.

Moon Chul FULLMOON@donga.com