Kim Dae Jung, Freed From Ban, Joins Party

Opposition leader Kim Dae Jung, banned from practicing politics for the past 15 years, formally joined the party of his one-time rival for the presidency Saturday.

Kim’s political rights were restored last month, paving the way for his Saturday appointment as a senior adviser of the Reunification Democratic Party headed by Kim Young Sam.

“I am aware that the people are concerned about whether the RDP can field a single presidential candidate,” the party’s new adviser said, signing his membership application. “However, I declare solemnly and resolutely that the RDP will surely succeed” in choosing one candidate to face Roh Tae Woo, the nominee of the ruling Democratic Justice Party, in elections tentatively set for late this year.

Kim Young Sam agreed, declaring, “The incumbent regime will never succeed in alienating me from Kim Dae Jung.”

Were Rivals in 1971

The two Kims contested the opposition nomination for the presidential election of 1971--Kim Dae Jung won the contest but lost the election--and again both sought the opposition nomination in 1980 for an election that was never held. It was aborted by the May, 1980, coup of President Chun Doo Hwan.

Kim Dae Jung’s move capped a week of renewed ferment here after nearly three weeks of public distraction by rains and flooding.

Earlier in the week, the National Assembly convened a special session to consider flood relief, and opposition assemblymen, particularly the Kim Dae Jung faction, made clear that they will raise political issues as well.

At week’s end, South Korean business and industry were caught up in a whirlwind of labor disputes, walkouts by workers encouraged by the atmosphere of promised political reform. According to the Labor Ministry, 89 factories and plants in 21 cities faced labor sit-ins or walkouts by Saturday evening.

4,000 Miners Strike

Among the new strikers in the past two days were an estimated 4,000 coal miners. Work stoppages continued at the major port of Pusan. Industrial giants Hyundai and Daewoo continued their shutdowns of major factories for lack of parts from struck suppliers. Their shutdowns in turn forced other parts makers to stop work.

The Labor Ministry said 15 disputes were settled Friday, but new ones broke out, increasing the total.

Trade and Industry Minister Rha Woong Bae said, “Exports already show signs of slowing down, and if the dispute continues, it would have a serious impact on the economy as a whole.”