Lee Hoi-chang Opposes Unilateral Sunshine Policy

Lee Hoi-chang, presidential candidate of the Grand National Party (GNP) said in a press conference held yesterday at the GNP headquarters on the 7th, "The incumbent government has been busy giving so much to North Korea while ignoring the principle of reciprocity. North Korean has pulled the strings. He went on to say that under this circumstance, armed provocation would continue. Thus the government should not continue the Sunshine Policy.

Asked if he meant the disposal of the Sunshine Policy, he answered, "In order to address North Korean issued through dialogue and cooperation, we should ease tension first starting with military confidence building. What I intend to say is we should review the Sunshine Policy and revise some parts which have been implemented in a wrong way or without principle."

He added, "A true bipartisan cabinet will not be formed if TV hearings and the independent council system to eradicate corruption is not introduced. If the proposed neutral cabinet is different from what the GNP is calling for, difficult situation will occur again at the end of the president term."

Asked if he would recommend cabinet members at the president`s request, the GNP standard-bearer said, "If the president shows his willingness to root out corruption by forming a bipartisan cabinet, I could express my view. But If the president boasts a neutral cabinet only by changing some figures, that intention will end up in failure."

Lee opposed the call for a constitutional revision, saying, "It is nothing but a political plot to revise the constitution within this year, and it is impossible on a realistic basis."

Lee Nak-yeon, spokesman of the MDP refuted Lee`s comments, saying, "Has Lee ever come up with an alternative while he has criticized the Sunshine Policy engaging the North?" Park Seon-sook, spokesperson for the President also said, "President Kim has taken politically neutral stance since he broke away from the MDP.

Yeon-Wook Jung jyw11@donga.com