Korea Parties Agree to Seek Political Reforms : Incumbents in Seoul and Opposition Will Draft Revisions Allowing ‘Free Choice’ in Elections

A major breakthrough in efforts to amend South Korea’s repressive constitution was achieved Thursday when leaders of the ruling and opposition parties agreed to establish a National Assembly committee to draft reforms “guaranteeing the people a free choice of government.”

The agreement came at a 3 1/2-hour dinner meeting attended by Roh Tae Woo, chairman of the governing Democratic Justice Party, and Lee Min Woo, head of the opposition New Korea Democratic Party.

Party Goes on Record

It spelled an end to six years of refusals by President Chun Doo Hwan even to consider rewriting the constitution that he imposed under martial law as acting president in 1980. It also put Chun’s party on record as favoring, if not committed to, constitutional reform.

The agreement was announced by spokesmen for the two parties and then confirmed by Roh and Lee in separate meetings with newsmen.

A Western diplomat, who asked not to be further identified, said in commenting on the agreement that “for a change, I’m very high on Korea.”

“The prospects for real democratic reforms have never been better,” the diplomat said, “although there are no guarantees it will happen, particularly if the two sides fail to compromise with each other.”

Chun had said on April 30 that he would permit reform of the constitution in time to select his successor under a new system--but only if the opposition and ruling parties could reach agreement on the necessary amendments in the National Assembly.

Roh and Lee, who are often hostile toward each other--they had not met since last September--agreed to form a committee on constitutional reform at a special session of the National Assembly scheduled to open June 5.

‘Free Choice’ Promised

They agreed “to revise the constitution in such a way as to guarantee the people a free choice of government”--language that represents a significant compromise on both sides.

Until Thursday night, Lee and his opposition party, which is led behind the scenes by Kim Dae Jung and Kim Young Sam, two prominent opposition figures in the 1961-79 era of President Park Chung Hee--had insisted that the ruling party agree in advance to amend the constitution to provide for direct election of the president.

For his part, Roh withdrew a declaration he had made only nine days ago that the ruling party would certainly rule out any system for direct election of the president. Instead, he told reporters that negotiations on constitutional reform “will start with a blank sheet of paper.”

“We will put no restrictions on debates on rewriting the constitution,” Roh said. “All forms of government and all methods of elections will be discussed freely.”

The opposition’s Lee echoed that sentiment and said his meeting with Roh has convinced him that the ruling party is serious about revising the constitution.

Electoral College

Under the present constitution, the president is chosen by a kind of electoral college with 5,278 members. In 1981, such a body gave more than 90% of its votes to Chun, who had come to power after the assassination of President Park in 1979.

Both party leaders dropped demands that they had insisted upon as prerequisites to establishing a committee on constitutional reform.

Roh had demanded that Lee cancel plans for a rally of his New Korea Democratic Party seeking the signatures of voters favoring constitutional reform. The rally had been scheduled for Saturday in Chonju. The opposition party has had a series of such rallies, and one of them, in Inchon on May 3, degenerated into the most violent riots South Korea has seen since 1979.

Chun and his party have demanded that the opposition halt the rallies and bring the debate into the National Assembly. But when Lee insisted that Saturday’s rally go ahead as planned, Roh raised no objection.

Opposition Demands Dropped

Lee dropped demands for the release of what his party calls prisoners of conscience, as well as for restoration of the civil rights of Kim Dae Jung, the last opposition candidate in a free and open presidential election in South Korea. In that election, in 1971, Kim won 46% of the vote. He is now under a suspended 20-year prison term for sedition.

In response, Roh said only that special attention will be given to the effort “to create a mood for a smooth bipartisan dialogue.” Lee indicated that he will renew his plea on behalf of Kim Dae Jung and the prisoners at a meeting with President Chun. Such a meeting, according to Roh, will be arranged “as early as possible,” probably before the National Assembly’s special session.

Also dropped was an opposition demand that the ruling party commit itself to reaching agreement on constitutional reforms by Sept. 20, when the National Assembly is scheduled to convene its regular annual session.

Other Issues Included

The two leaders said they hope to work out a “grand compromise” that will include not only revisions to the constitution but other issues as well. Among these is a section of the Presidential Election Law that limits candidates to three television appearances and three radio speeches.