Opposition party tougher on Sejong, 4-river plans

By Lee Tae-hoon

Staff reporter

The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) pledged Monday to expand free school lunch services and take a more aggressive approach in stopping the government from unilaterally pushing multi-billion-dollar construction projects.

"The party will take a more proactive and effective approach in dealing with the issues within the National Assembly," DP Chairman Chung Sye-kyun said at a workshop of party lawmakers in Seoul.

Chung said the DP's far-better-than anticipated outcome in the June 2 local elections reflects the public's growing calls for the opposition to play a checking and balancing role to the Lee Myung-bak administration.

"It is certain that the political landscape will change following the local elections," Chung said. "The number of DP seats in the National Assembly has yet to change. But now we have the support of the people, who can pull some strings for us."

The DP leader added, "Above all, the government must halt the four-river project and stick to the original plan as to the construction of Sejong City."

The DP suspects the river work could be a prelude to resuming a cross-country canal project, which President Lee had given up on in the face of objections from the majority of people.

The opposition party is also against the government's push to scrap the original plan to relocate nine ministries and four government agencies from Seoul to Sejong City in the Chungcheong region and instead developing it into a city focusing on science, education and business.

The DP plans to closely work with local administrative chiefs who won in the local polls on its ticket to put the brakes on two of the government's mega projects.

Local governments have the authority to review some of the budgets, conduct additional environmental assessments and scrap some related projects, such as the construction of tourist facilities along the rivers.

As to a free meal program for elementary and secondary students, the DP will push to make it mandatory this year and make the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and local governments secure additional funds for it.