By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter

Cheong Wa Dae has ruled out the possibility of putting the revision of an administrative town project to a referendum.

"The presidential office remains unchanged in its position to persuade people to accept the revision to the last minute in order to resolve the issue," presidential spokesman Park Sun-kyu told reporters Monday.

The reaction came as a drive to put the plan to a national referendum is gaining momentum within the ruling camp, amid objections from opposition parties.

Rep. Choung Byoung-gug, secretary general of the governing Grand National Party (GNP), said earlier in the day that a referendum could be an option if that is what it takes to decide the best future for Sejong City.

His remarks came a day after GNP's Rep. Shim Jae-chul proposed a referendum on the disputed revision, spurring a drive to leave the crucial decision in the hands of the public.

Opposition parties, meanwhile, threatened to submit a motion to oust Prime Minister Chung Un-chan to the National Assembly Thursday.

They refused to accept Shim's proposal for a referendum.

Proponents, who are close to President Lee, argue a "security vacuum" would pose a threat to the nation if nine ministries and four government agencies were relocated to Sejong as initially planned.

If there were an emergency, they argued, it would take time for Cabinet members in Seoul and Sejong City to set up meetings and get together to discuss policy responses.

The pro-Lee legislators called on their fellow lawmakers to let the public decide on the crucial matter through the referendum.

The Constitution stipulates that a President can conduct a referendum when the nation is faced with crucial issues related to national security, or to get approval for a constitutional change.

The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) claimed that a President is not entitled to hold a referendum on the Sejong plan as it has nothing to do with national security.

Aides of former GNP Chairwoman Park Geun-hye sent mixed signals.

They opposed the referendum, but were divided over a National Assembly's move to unseat the prime minister.

Hardliners are sympathetic with the opposition parties.

The strategists for Park Geun-hye worry over the possible consequences if they "rock the boat" by joining hands with opposition parties on the plan to oust Chung.

"We will end up being suicide bombers if we vote for the initiative to kick out Chung," said a pro-Park lawmaker on condition of anonymity.

Supporters of President Lee, including Shim and Chung, tout the referendum as a solution.

They are fully aware that the chances of the Assembly passing the new plan are low as pro-Park legislators have reiterated their opposition to the plan.

If the Park faction within the GNP remains opposed to the revision, the new plan will not be passed by the legislature. Of 159 GNP legislators, about 60 are affiliated with the former party chairwoman.

To pass the crucial plan, the only other option the GNP has is letting the public decide.

hkang@koreatimes.co.kr