Kim names S.K. Park secretary general

President Kim Dae-Jung, who heads the ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP), appointed Rep. Park Sang-Kyu party secretary general and Rep. Namgoong Suek to chair its policy council Thursday.

Appointees to other party posts were spokesman Rep. Kim Young-Hwan, Local Self-Government Committee chairman Rep. Chu Mi-Ae and Chief Secretary to the Party Chairman Rep. Kim Seong-Ho.

The shakeup of the secondary-tier party leadership excluded those members hailing from the southwestern provinces of Honam or belonging to the so-called Tonggyo-dong faction consisting of loyalists to the president. Instead, the changes embrace reformist junior members who are first- or second-term lawmakers.

Out of initial candidates chosen by President Kim and the new party chairman Kim Joong-Kwon, the policy council chairman and the local self-government committee chairman were changed by the Supreme Council called soon after the Cheong Wa Dae meeting. It signifies a stronger say of the council in managing party affairs.

Yoon Young-Chan yyc11@donga.com