By Lee Jin-woo
Staff Reporter


President Roh Moo-hyun’s proposal to form a ``grand coalition’’ with opposition parties has failed to get support from the public, according to recent surveys.

According to a survey of 523 adults jointly conducted by the vernacular daily the Chosun Ilbo, and Gallup Korea, 72.9 percent responded negatively on the president’s remarks to shorten his five-year presidential tenure or withdraw into the background of publics. Some 18.9 percent said ``Roh’s determination is appropriate,’’ while 8.2 percent gave no answer.

The survey was conducted nationwide on Aug. 31 through telephone interviews.

Following the president’s series of coalition proposals to opposition parties, especially to the largest opposition Grand National Party (GNP), President Roh said, ``I will even consider ending the Roh Moo-hyun era by withdrawing into the back or shortening my presidential tenure.’’ He made the remarks during a dinner meeting with ruling Uri Party legislators Tuesday.

Regarding Roh’s continuous political courtship toward the GNP, 64.1 percent said ``it was inappropriate,’’ while 19.6 percent replied positively. About 16.4 percent had no opinion.

Some 64.4 percent did not agree with Roh’s idea that overhauling the current electoral system, which many believe is rift with regional rivalry, will help put an end to the lingering regional antagonism. Only 18 percent said the proposed electoral system could be helpful in overcoming the chronic problem in Korean politics, while 17.6 percent gave no answer.

In another survey of 700 adults by another vernacular daily, the Munhwa Ilbo on Tuesday, 53.2 percent of the pollees had a negative response to Roh’s coalition plan, while 31.9 percent supported the idea.

Those who expressed support for the idea of forming a coalition with opposition parties have continuously decreased since the daily’s first survey on July 12 with 35.1 percent, according to the daily. About 34 percent of those who were surveyed on August 16 expressed support for Roh’s determination.

Regarding Roh’s leadership, the survey showed that 61.1 percent replied negatively, while 24.1 percent were positive.

In a meeting with a group of senior editorial writers on Wednesday, the president reiterated his willingness to resign before his tenure expires if the ruling and opposition parties agree to a change the parliamentary election system to end the decades-old political regionalism.

things@koreatimes.co.kr