``To Restrain Cheong Wa Dae from Involvement in Political Issues``

President Kim Dae-Jung said at the first chief secretarial meeting since his resignation from the president of the Millennium Democratic Party on 10th, ``From now on, Cheong Wa Dae should restrain itself from being involved in the political issues, and should make efforts to gain cooperation from both ruling and oppositional parties.``

According to Chief presidential information secretary Oh Hong-Keun, President Kim said that ``considering the terrorist incidents and economic situation, World Cup Game and Asia Game, and the two major elections next year, I decided to resign from the president of the MDP because responsibilities for the nation is more important even though responsibilities for the party is important.``

President Kim also said, ``Cheong Wa Dae should change hereafter, and should do its best to administrate the national affairs with the Ministry of Administration. Especially, by concentrating on the administration of national affairs to make middle-class people and the commoners to feel relieved and to stabilize the public sentiment, Cheong Wa Dae should make people feel the change.``

Chief presidential secretary of political affairs Yoo Sun-Ho said that President Kim ordered to have the government and party discussion on the various governmental policies not only with the ruling party but also with the opposition party in terms of equal opportunity. Yoo added, ``We are still examining whether the ruling party should discuss the governmental policies with the opposition party together.``

ysmo@donga.com