Ruling party leader calls for bipartisan meeting

SEOUL, Oct. 9 (Yonhap) -- The chairman of South Korea's conservative ruling party on Thursday proposed a meeting with his opposition counterparts, emphasizing the need for bipartisan cooperation in overcoming the escalating financial turmoil.

South Korea's currency market is jolted from a dollar shortage with banks and
companies rushing to the safer greenback on concerns over the Wall Street
financial crisis.
Some experts here are concerned that Asia's fourth-largest economy may face a
massive challenge similar to that during the 1997-98 financial meltdown.
"I declare an end to political warfare and request a meeting with all opposition
party chairmen," Park Hee-tae, chairman of the ruling Grand National Party, said
in a press conference. "All political forces must join hands to overcome the
ongoing financial crisis and revitalize the slowing economy."
"Even if we fail to come up with specific measures, won't the public feel assured
by our efforts to put behind partisan interests and cooperate for the sake of the
country?" Park added. "I am confident that all parties will accept my request."
Park, a five-term lawmaker and one of President Lee Myung-bak's closest
confidants, will mark his 100th day as the governing party leader Friday.
His party, holding an absolute majority 172 seats in the 299-member unicameral
house, has been courting opposition parties' cooperation in settling several
economy-related bills, including the ratification of a Seoul-Washington free
trade deal and property tax cut.
Although economy has topped the national agenda since President Lee took office
in February, South Korea has been struggling through a deep slump, spawning
public distrust of the conservative government.
The ruling party plans to send official requests to other chairmen this week and
discuss specific forms of the meeting, officials said.
hayney@yna.co.kr
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