GNP Contenders Fire Back at Roh
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
Presidential hopefuls of the main opposition Grand National Party slammed President Roh Moo-hyun for his speech at Wonkwang University on Friday.
Independent lawmaker Chung Mong-joon, who once was Roh’s political partner during the 2002 presidential campaigns, also joined the attack.
During the speech, Roh said, ``Do not be deceived by illusionary tax cuts pledged by Lee Myung-bak because the policy will put welfare programs in danger.’’
Roh also said it is unfeasible to finance the canal project with private funds as pledged by the former Seoul mayor.
He also implied Chung would not have made a difference in politics if he had joined Roh’s team.
In the 2002 election, Chung expressed support for Roh, but recanted the day before elections.
``There were moments during the 2002 presidential campaigns when my popularity was staggering,’’ Roh said. ``So I contacted a person outside for help. Suppose that I won the election because of him. Was he able to move democracy, welfare policy and inter-Korean cooperation forward? Probably not.’’
Experts said the person outside indicates Rep. Chung, the son of Hyundai group founder Chung Ju-yung.
Leading GNP presidential candidate Lee fired back at the President.
``It is none of the president’s business whether the canal project would be financed with private funds or not. He had better focus on how he could wrap up his presidency smoothly, instead of complaining about my pledge,’’ Lee said Friday in Busan.
``It is not the President’s job to comment on the pledge suggested by presidential contenders. It is the people who make a decision in the presidential election,’’ the former Seoul mayor said.
Park Geun-hye, a former GNP chairwoman, said Roh seemed not to take his job seriously.
Park advised Roh that for the remainder of his presidential tenure, he should concentrate more on his job than any other affairs.
Chung criticized Roh, saying, ``About 70 percent of the public think Roh has not done his job well since he took office in early 2003.’’