Rep. Park Jin decides not to run in general elections

A three-term lawmaker of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) said Friday he will not run in the April parliamentary elections to help his party's drive to reshape its image.

Rep. Park Jin, 55, who was first elected in 2002 in the key Seoul district of Jongno, said he hopes the move will help the struggling conservative party carry out reforms to restore public trust.

"To pull the party out of a crisis, I give up all my vested rights," Park said during a press conference. "I'll sacrifice myself to bring about real change and reform the GNP."

The Oxford-educated politician first entered politics as a press secretary to former President Kim Young-sam, who served from 1993-1998. The diplomat-turned-lawmaker is an expert in foreign affairs and diplomacy, especially in the issue of inter-Korean relations.

The high-profile lawmaker's image was tarnished when he was found guilty of illegally receiving political funds from a local businessman, who was at the center of a bribery scandal involving late President Roh Moo-hyun and his aides. The top court in January upheld a 800,000 won (US$695) fine for Jin, a penalty that did not cost him his parliamentary seat. (Yonhap)

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