Ruling party to push for dispersal of presidential powers

The ruling Saenuri Party said Thursday it will push to disperse the power of the president with the prime minister and the legislature if it wins December's presidential election.

The party's political reforms committee announced the pledge during a press conference in Seoul, saying the changes aim to give the prime minister the legal right to recommend members for the Cabinet to the president. The president would then appoint one of those recommended to the post.

Under the plan, the president would also take steps to seek more cooperative relations with the National Assembly by giving regular speeches there, and hold regular policy consultations meetings with leaders of political parties.

The committee also said it will call for the establishment of a new government body that would monitor equal opportunities in the workplace.

The so-called "equal opportunities committee" would check various indicators to monitor and report whether women and social minorities such as multicultural families and the disabled receive fair treatment in workplaces within the government and across society.

The new committee would, in addition, be tasked with ensuring that public services and organizations are not dominated by people from a particular region or university.

The pledge comes as the party's presidential candidate, Park Geun-hye, has vowed to achieve national unity if elected in the Dec. 19 polls. (Yonhap)