By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter

An ultraconservative civic group accused the minor opposition Democratic Labor Party leader Kang Ki-kap, Rep. Choe Kyoo-sik of the main opposition Democratic Party, bestselling novelist Cho Jung-rae and 97 other social leaders of being "pro-North Korea," Friday.

The late former Presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun were dropped from the list amid much controversy, but the members said they will be considered for the next edition.

The national action committee for the development of Korea held a press conference at a hotel in downtown Seoul and revealed the names of 100 social leaders out of 5,000, whom they suspect to be pro-North Korea.

"Support for the Juche Ideology of the North or being positive toward the communist state's movement were the main criteria in their selection," the group's head Koh Young-joo said.

Three incumbent lawmakers, two former assemblymen as well as 12 former high-ranking officials, including Cabinet members, were listed while 13 cultural activists, 17 classified-progressive scholars and 10 religious leaders were among those anti-state figures. Some of them were influential powerhouses and the list is expected to cause the resumption of the "ideology war," observers said.

The list will be published on Aug. 15 ― Liberation Day. The second edition is expected to come out at the end of the year.

bjs@koreatimes.co.kr