MDP demands open apology from opposition party leader

The ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) Wednesday demanded that Lee Hoi-Chang, president of the opposition Grand National Party (GNP), apologize to the people for preparing what was described as a plan to manipulate the press. Earlier in the day, Lee expressed regret over the controversy during a meeting of key party post holders that was open to reporters. ¡°I am very sorry that such a document was prepared and that this issue has caused such a stir,¡± he said.

The GNP leader said that his party would never intervene in the operation of or control the press. The GNP announced its intention to reprimand the Planning Committee official who drafted the document, which called for the classification of so-called pro-GNP and anti-GNP journalists as one of the party¡¯s strategies for the next presidential election.

The ruling MDP claimed that Lee publicly voiced his regret only because he could not deny the fact that GNP¡¯s Planning Committee had drawn up the document. It urged Lee to apologize to the people for scheming to use the press and the public as pawns in the party¡¯s political maneuvering. It also adopted a 13-point list of questions on the scandal that are to be put to the GNP.

Meanwhile, Culture-Tourism Minister Kim Han-Gill said that he ¡°had not the slightest idea¡± that the GNP had produced such a document. Answering questions during a meeting of the National Assembly¡¯s Special Budget-Settlement Committee, Kim said if it is true, it is a ¡°very regrettable and grave case¡± and infringed upon the freedom of the press.