By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
Ruling and opposition party leaders are likely to start negotiations to rezone the administrative districts following an agreement between President Lee Myung-bak and main opposition Democratic Party (DP) leader Chung Sye-kyun Thursday.
At the Lee-Chung meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, the President said the presidential office would submit its proposal on redistricting the nation.
Lee expressed hope that the ruling and opposition party leaders would come out with a compromise bill to redraw the outdated administrative districts.
The presidential office, the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) and the main opposition DP shared the need for a change in the current scheme composed of 230 counties and cities in 16 provinces.
Despite the bipartisan agreement, political analysts say the road ahead is tough as the three parties differ over the details.
The presidential office reportedly preferred a plan where the nation is divided into seven large districts, called the five plus two zones.
Meanwhile, GNP and DP leaders back the idea of merging the current 230 cities and counties into 60 to 70 counties.
Inside the two parties, there are opponents who fear that rezoning administrative districts would put their political career at risk.
These skeptics are concerned that their constitutional districts may disappear as a result of a possible rezoning.
The minor Liberty Forward Party (LFP) also opposed the plan.
The LFP claimed that the proposal, if passed, would undermine the quality of public services.
``If the worries turn into a reality, local residents will lose,'' the LFP said in a statement.
Proponents of rezoning administrative districts such as Rep. Huh Tae-yeol said lawmakers should revise the current law in a manner that local residents can be better served with improved public services.