S. Korea Frees 14 From Purge : Kim Still Restricted, but House Arrest Ends

President Chun Doo Hwan today removed the ban on participation in politics for the last 14 of the 567 politicians he purged in 1980, but he continued legal restrictions on activities of Kim Dae Jung, the most prominent opposition leader.

However, Chun did free Kim from the house arrest imposed when he returned Feb. 8 from two years of voluntary exile in the United States. The president also hinted that he may be more lenient later toward Kim, his most severe critic.

The announcement, by Hwang Sun Pil, the president’s press secretary, came as plainclothes police withdrew from checkpoints surrounding Kim’s home here. The 61-year-old opposition leader actually was among those for whom the ban was lifted, but his suspended 20-year jail sentence on charges of sedition will continue to prevent him from engaging openly in political activity.

Chun’s move granted freedom to participate in politics for the first time in nearly five years to all of the other prominent figures of the 1961-1979 era of President Park Chung Hee, who was assassinated in 1979. Full political rights were restored to both Kim Young Sam, the last leader of the main opposition party under Park, and Kim Chong Pil, the founder of both the Korean Central Intelligence Agency and of Park’s ruling party and the prime minister from 1971 to 1975.

Another whose rights were restored is Lee Hu Rak, who, as director of the Korean CIA in August, 1973, masterminded Kim Dae Jung’s kidnaping in Tokyo and abduction to Seoul.

In 1980, Chun abolished all political parties, arrested politicians on both sides of the political fence and ultimately purged 567 people, declaring that they would be forbidden to participate in politics until June, 1988.

Kim Chong Pil was charged with amassing an illicit fortune of $35.5 million during Park’s era, while Lee Hu Rak was accused of using his official positions to pocket more than $8 million. Both men were forced to turn their wealth over to the state but neither was indicted or put on trial. Kim Chong Pil is now living in the United States.

Kim Young Sam was put under house arrest, and charges of fomenting a rebellion were brought against Kim Dae Jung.

Chun had earlier lifted the purge against all but the 14 affected today.

‘Virtually No Meaning’

In a telephone conversation, Kim Dae Jung called the move “a first step in political development” toward democracy--although “for me, as an individual, it has virtually no meaning.”

Kim said the chief of the local police station visited his home Tuesday night to tell him that police would be withdrawn and that he could move about freely beginning today.

“I was informed, however, that police will continue their surveillance of me and that I could engage in no political party activities, nor make any contributions to any political parties,” said Kim, who was the opposition candidate in 1971 in South Korea’s last free and open presidential election. But “for the others, they can engage in politics. So there is a meaning in the measure,” he added.

Kim Young Sam, however, condemned Chun for banning the politicians in the first place, saying that “to take power, this dictatorial military regime created this law.” He said it was not Chun but rather the South Korean people--by their strong support for a new opposition party in Feb. 12 National Assembly elections--”who lifted this ban with their power.”

‘Fair, Clean Elections’

“Since I was released from house arrest in May, 1983, I have ignored this illegal (purge) law in all of my actions, and there will be no change in my actions now,” Kim Young Sam added.

Hwang, the press secretary, said today’s measure was “an epochal step” taken because Chun had determined that “the foundation for democracy has been consolidated through the fair and clean elections held Feb. 12.”

Other government officials said privately that the move was taken to facilitate a dialogue between Chun’s ruling Democratic Justice Party and its new chairman, Roh Tae Woo, who is also president of the Seoul Olympic Organizing Committee, and the New Korea Democratic Party, which emerged from the Feb. 12 elections as the No. 1 opposition force.

The New Korea Democrats, who organized themselves as a party only 25 days before the election, openly declared their support of both Kim Dae Jung and Kim Young Sam and promised to demand a restoration of democracy.

Kim’s Private Life Free

Lee Won Hong, minister of culture and information, told foreign correspondents that Kim Dae Jung will be forbidden to “form private groups similar to a political party or groups that function as an agent of any political party.”

“Kim Dae Jung will be free to conduct his private affairs but he is still under sentence on charges of sedition. Because of this suspended punishment, he will remain unable to join a political party or serve as an adviser to a political party or do anything to influence political parties,” the minister said.

Other government officials said privately that Kim will be permitted to give speeches “in places like a church or a school meeting” and will be free to “comment on the political situation in Korea.” These officials, however, refused to say whether the government-controlled mass media would be allowed to print news about Kim’s remarks.

Lee hinted that President Chun might ease the restrictions on Kim in the future if Kim acts with moderation.

A ‘New Political Age’

After declaring that Chun intends “to build a grand new political age of harmony in which national administration is guided by dialogue,” Lee was asked if such a dialogue would include a meeting with Kim Dae Jung or Kim Young Sam or Kim Chong Pil, or all three of them. “The answer is neither yes, nor no,” he replied.

What that means, other officials said privately, is that Chun would not rule out a meeting with the old-time politicians, Kim Dae Jung included, but first they must display moderation by not inciting illegal actions against the government. In Kim Dae Jung’s case, they added, any meeting with Chun would come only after Kim’s sedition charge is removed--if Chun decides to remove it by declaring an amnesty for him.