South Korea to Free 1,200 Dissidents : Amnesty Expected to Be Approved Before Roh Inauguration

In an effort to reconcile the government and opponents, 1,200 dissidents jailed or banned for political crimes will be freed or their civil rights restored before the inauguration of President-elect Roh Tae Woo next month, officials said today.

The Justice Ministry is screening those convicted of political crimes for release in order to promote peace between officials and their critics, the officials said.

State-run Korean Broadcasting System radio said amnesties could be granted later this month. Roh is slated to begin his five-year term Feb. 25 after President Chun Doo Hwan steps down.

Roh Promised Reforms

Roh, a former general who helped bring Chun to power in a 1979 coup, during his campaign promised to bind the wounds of the opposition and promote democratic reforms. He defeated divided opposition leaders Kim Young Sam and Kim Dae Jung for the presidency Dec. 16.

Meanwhile today, Kim Young Sam retained his leadership of the main opposition party after offering to resign over his defeat in last month’s presidential election.

A special convention of the Reunification Democratic Party rejected Kim’s offer to resign as party president by a vote of 819 to 76.

“Kim Young Sam! Kim Young Sam!” chanted cheering supporters as Kim, with a laurel of flowers around his neck, flashed victory signs.

Victories Expected

The opposition leader assured supporters of an “overwhelming” victory in legislative elections, but the mood appeared somewhat subdued in light of Kim’s defeat in the nation’s first direct presidential race in 16 years.

Roh, the candidate of the governing Democratic Justice Party, won with 36.6% of the vote. Kim Young Sam followed with 28% and Kim Dae Jung got 27%.

“I had never shed tears for political reasons until I lost the Dec. 16 presidential election,” a haggard-looking Kim Young Sam said.

He had offered to resign as party president and drop out of politics. But party sources said there was no chance of his losing today’s vote.

Democratic Springboard

He said the National Assembly elections would give his party a chance to regain the political initiative and resume its fight to introduce full democracy.

Kim Young Sam and Kim Dae Jung both have apologized to the nation for splitting the opposition. But they have not shown any desire to reunite it.

In an address to a national party convention, Kim Young Sam also promised the nearly 1,000 delegates that he would help make the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics a festival for the Korean people and the world.

“For the Olympics for which the entire nation wishes success, our party will do its utmost to make it a festival of all our people, a festival of the whole world,” Kim said.