S. Korean Party Chief Roh May Visit U.S.

Roh Tae Woo, head of South Korea’s ruling party and its presidential nominee in the election planned for December, will visit Washington next week, party sources said Monday.

Roh’s trip will be at the invitation of the National Press Club, but Roh also expects to see President Reagan, Secretary of State George P. Shultz and other Administration and congressional leaders, according to members of the ruling Democratic Justice Party.

Roh is expected to leave Seoul on Sunday and spend the early part of the week in Washington.

According to an article in today’s issue of the Korea Times, “Democratic Justice Party officials believe that Roh’s meetings with U.S. leaders will help elevate his political stature in the eyes of the electorate at home.”

Trying to Bolster Bid

Roh has sought to strengthen his bid for the presidency ever since he made a dramatic announcement June 29 accepting opposition demands for direct election of the next president.

President Chun Doo Hwan, who came to power through a military coup, is scheduled to step down in February after completing a seven-year term.

Hyun Hong Choo, a member of the National Assembly, was quoted in the Korea Times as saying that the National Press Club first invited Roh last year, then renewed its invitation after his June 29 announcement of support for democratic reforms.

Roh is expected to address the press club on political matters, including the presidential election. In his talks with American government leaders, he is likely to bring up bilateral trade relations and other matters, according to anonymous aides quoted by the Korea Times.

No U.S. Confirmation

William Maurer, press officer at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, said he knew of the Korean press reports but was not able to confirm that Roh will see Reagan or other U.S. officials. Confirmation of any such meetings would have to come from Washington, he said.

Either Kim Young Sam, president of the opposition Reunification Democratic Party, or Kim Dae Jung, the other leading opposition figure, is expected to be the opposition party’s presidential nominee. Both have pledged that only one of them will seek the presidency, but both are maneuvering for position.

As part of the process, Kim Dae Jung, whose political rights were restored only two months ago, is to leave Seoul today to visit the southwestern cities of Kwangju and Mokpo and his birthplace on the island of Haui. It will be his first visit to the region since he was the opposition candidate in South Korea’s last free presidential election, in 1971. He spent most of the ensuing years in prison, in exile, or under house arrest.

Will Visit Cemetery

Kim will visit a cemetery on the outskirts of Kwangju “to pay homage to the dead from the May 18 Kwangju uprising of 1980 and to console the wounded and bereaved families,” according to an itinerary made public Monday.

The 1980 pro-democracy uprising in Kwangju was suppressed by Chun’s government at a cost of 194 lives, by official count. Opposition figures put the figure at several times that number. The incident accounts for much of the bitterness and fear that permeates South Korean politics.

Kim’s tour is widely viewed as a test of the waters for a bid to win the Reunification Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. He has scheduled appearances at dinners, a church service and at the Kwangju railroad station but has not planned any massive rallies.

Talks on Selection Process

On Monday, Kim Young Sam and Kim Dae Jung both appointed representatives to take part in discussions on the selection of a candidate. Kim Young Sam is pressing for a quick selection, with the posts of party nominee and party president held by the same individual, while Kim Dae Jung favors a delay in selection of the nominee, with whoever is not chosen as the nominee serving in the post of party president.

Meanwhile, the wave of labor unrest that has swept the country in recent weeks showed signs of easing after a government crackdown. There were few reported incidents of new violence.

However, thousands of workers continued their protest at the Hyundai Heavy Industries shipyard at Ulsan. The strikers were demanding the release of union leaders arrested Friday. On Saturday, the company suspended operations indefinitely.