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"Let us prepare for the 21st century with new resolve. Above all, let us set right all that is wrong about our politics. As things currently stand, the political sector appears to lack the drive for self-reform. Instead of leading the nation's growth, politics has us trapped. Political reform has become our most urgent task. We need an election system that nurtures nationally-based rather than provincially-supported political parties. The future of this nation will certainly be dismal if we remain in the grip of regional divisiveness. We must strengthen public management of elections. By taking money out of cmpaigns, we must root out the corruption that has debased the electoral process. We must revise the Political Parties Act so that the system of party organization and management is streamlined and the costs minimized. We must amend the Political Funds Act so that there is greater transparency in the raising and use of political funds. We must revise the National Assembly Act to move the center of the legislative process from the standing committees to the plenary session. All members of the National Assembly must become active responsible participants in the deliberations on national affairs in a constructive legislative process. Parliamentary politics must become the arena of debate and mutual cooperation, and the National Assembly must be run in accordance with the laws and the principle of majority rule. Forced passage of bills and obstruction of legislative procedures must be done away with."

This was a DJ's address relating to political reform from the speech marking the 54th Liberation Day. This speech indicates DJ's strong will about political reform. It is fact that the DJ government has been careless in political reform since DJ's inauguration. Politics, however, are the foundation of all reforms. That is, any reform can't succeed without political reform. Accordingly, DJ couldn't help starting political reform. Do the people think that DJ's actions are sincere? Does the political reform planned by DJ really seem to be for the people?

The kernel of DJ's reform is organizing a new party and revising the electoral system. According to current news reports, most participants for new party's organization new comers politically. However, DJ is still the boss of the new party. In a society rapidly changing, parties need a democratic system. In spite of this fact, the new party does not satisfy this requirement. If DJ wanted true reform, he would leave the new party. Chang Hoon, a professor of political science & Diplomacy Dept. of Chung-Ang university. says that DJ's political policy doesn't fulfill following three basic elements.

Do politics progress in accordance with the requirements of the people? Do politics reflect a variety of benefits in society? Is political formation stable? He also commented, "DJ should organize new party with these three facts.' At any rate, many blind points are shown in the organization of the new party. People have to always monitor a new party and DJ has to be aware of other people's eyes. The objective of organizing a new party should not be DJ's private thoughts but political reform.

DJ's volition on change in the electoral system also matters. DJ wants to replace a minor constituency system with a medium constituency system and a proportional representation system. Many scholars, experts and even some politicians of the ruling party object to this system. Before DJ was inaugurated, he insisted on a minor constituency system. Why does DJ want to change election system notwithstanding opposition and giving up his prior stance? It is because of the desire to break down of regionalism that this system introduced. DJ himself is a victim of regionalism. Can the change of an electoral system break down regionalism? Such change would not provide ultimate reform , though that system works effectively. If DJ wants to break down regionalism, he has to try the frontal attack not a temporary expedient.

Election expert, and chief of Korean Politics Marketing, Kim Nyon-oh commented, "medium constituency system does not fit Korea. This system disappeared in 1993 in Japan. We have to know that it is not important which county's system is good or bad. The reason why governmental reform is not trusted by the people is not because of the system. It is because the nation's management has an evil mind. The reform that is made by authority is not a fair reform. Though many of political corruptions are being investigated for fresh political patterns, the people still don't trust the president's reforms. It is because there is no fairness."

DJ 's political reform has many blind spots. But, as these things can be easily found, DJ's political reform is not at the edge of a cliff. If DJ changes his current view of political reform, he could succeed faster and become more trustworthy to the Korean people.