Kim Won-ki, Roh's political adviser, said in an interview Saturday that the MDP did not win the election and everybody agreed the party must be reborn, though the timing of this has yet to be decided. Observers say Roh's supporters plan to remove the MDP old guard, and reform the party by inviting progressives and members from Yeongnam, the GNP stronghold, to join. They, added however, there has been no decision as to whether to crate a new party or revamp the old one.

A Roh supporter said party reform would be completed before inauguration.

There have also been calls for a change in the MDP's structure, so that it is centered on its national Assembly members.

First and second term GNP members also called for reform, saying the party's failure in the election was its failure to reflect on the people's demands. Assemblyman Kim Young-choon said the UK's Conservative Party selected Alexander Haig, a man in his 30s to lead the party, and the GNP needed to take similar steps.

Ahn Yang-keun commented that the essence of the problem was the younger generations abandoning the GNP, and recommended appointing people in their late 40s and early 50s to the party leadership. Kim Moon-soo said there has been a revolt of those in their 20s and 30s and so it was old-style to divide conservatives and progressives. He called for drastic changes to attract the young vote.

Shim Kyu-chul said the GNP should adopt change earlier than the ruling party by addressing issues in advance of the MDP, and like the minority ruling party center its control on the National Assembly.

(Kim Min-chul, mckim@chosun.com )