Millennium Democratic Party Secretary General Yoo Yong-tae effectively declared his departure from the party Friday by announcing that he will hold a press conference tomorrow together with other MDP members Jang Seong-won and Song Young-jin. Yoo submitted a letter of resignation Friday, as did Won Yoo-cheol to a district branch of the party, bringing the number of lawmakers quitting the party to 20.

Yoo and others will reportedly announce their willingness to form a party behind a single presidential candidate chosen from between the MDP's official candidate Roh Mu-hyun and National Unity 21 runner Chung Mong-joon.

Senior MDP member Lee Yong-sam also told reporters Friday, that he plans to break with the party as soon as his talk with a regional chapter office ends.

Meanwhile, members who had already left the party have decided to organize a negotiating group with certain ULD members and to register it at the National Assembly, before discussing the foundation of a new party. (Yoon Young-shin, ysyoon@chosun.com )