The Grand National Party announced Sunday that if it wins the presidential election it will abolish the Government Information Service by 2003 and reduce it to the Office of Public Information under the Presidential Office until 2007. It will also ensure media groups are under private management except one or two broadcasters and a government-owned press.
The party will also hold talks with private and independent organizations, and introduce a residents' summons system for incompetent heads of self-governing communities as part of its core pledges for the June 13 local elections.
Other pledges include a restriction on high-level officials stock or real estate investment, the organization of special committee on researching corruption in the Assembly, expansion of personnel confirmation hearing system, observance of warrant issuance in tracking accounts, permission for the court to investigate financial transactions, a tax cut from 12% to 8% for middle and small sized enterprises, and staged restoration of teachers¡¯ retirement age.
(Hong Seok-jun, udo@chosun.com)
