S. Korea's Kim quits as ruling party head

Kim received a Nobel prize for his efforts to reconcile with North Korea

By Michael Wengert

SEOUL, South Korea (CNN) -- South Korean President Kim Dae-jung has stepped down as head of his ruling party in a bid to quell internal party strife following its stunning defeat in recent parliamentary by-elections.

In vacating the Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) presidency, Kim said he would remain as an ordinary party member and would devote himself to affairs of state

Key among them are expected to be reviving his nation's struggling economy and furthering reconciliation with North Korea, an effort for which he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year.

The resignation will not change his status as president of South Korea.

The decision came a day after Kim met with senior party leaders over a rebellion by younger members of the MDP following the October 25 electoral defeat in three key districts at the hands of the opposition Grand National Party (GNP).

Seizing the three parliamentary seats, the opposition increased its strength to 136 of 273 seats, giving it one seat short of a simple majority.

Although all 12 top leaders had offered to resign, Kim accepted only the resignation of his chief policy secretary, Park Jie-won.

Shouldering responsibility

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Taking responsibility for declining public confidence in the ruling party and its members' disappointment at the outcome of the recent elections, Kim said "It's natural for me, as party leader, to shoulder responsibility that which led all council members and party post holders to resign en masse."

Kim said the resignations will enable him, as head of state, to pay more attention to the increasingly tense international situation and to the worsening national economy in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States.

He also said as head of the executive branch he wants to concentrate on the success of major national events scheduled for next year including the Korea-Japan World Cup finals and the Pusan Asiad as well as on local and presidential elections.

Kim must vacate the presidential office in 2003 as Koreas current constitution allows only a single 5-year term.

The presidential election is scheduled for December of next year and the surprise resignation is likely to intensify the struggle for power among older and younger factions of the party.

Despite what is expected to be an intense battle for power within the party, Kim said he hoped his decision would prompt the MDP to make sweeping reforms and create what he called an "emergency organization" capable of handling major party affairs including the staging of a successful national convention.