Taekwang Industry president Park Yun-cha, a friend of President Roh Moo-hyun, and the popular actor Moon Sung-guen will visit North Korea as part of the president’s entourage for the inter-Korean summit on Oct. 2-4. It will be Moon’s second visit to North Korea since 2000. Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung on Tuesday announced the 47-member entourage which includes six politicians, 17 economic leaders, 21 social and cultural figures and three women leaders. The number almost doubled from the 24 people who accompanied president Kim Dae-jung to the historic first summit in 2000, and the number of business leaders increased from nine to 17.

Also on the list are heads of state-run corporations that will have a hand in investment in North Korea’s infrastructure, such as Korea Electric Power Corporation CEO Lee Won-gul, Korea Railroad Corporation CEO Lee Chul and Korea Resources Corporation president Lee Han-ho. The heads of four major conglomerates -- Hyundai Motor chairman Chung Mong-Koo, LG Group chairman Koo Bon-moo, SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won and Samsung Group vice chairman Yoon Jong-yong -- will also be of the party. But the leaders of employer organizations were left out.

Cho Suk-rai, the chairman of the Federation of Korean Industries, recently hinted at support for Grand National Party presidential candidate Lee Myung-bak, a relative by marriage. Some observers speculate that cost him a seat on the plane. But the minister denied the government deliberately froze employers’ leaders out “but drew up the list centered on figures who are able to contribute to economic collaboration between the two Koreas in a practical way.”

No GNP members are included. Among other social and cultural figures are writer Jo Jung-rae, the author of “Taebaek Mountains.” LG Group chairman Koo, Samsung vice chairman Yoon and Prof. Moon Chung-in of Yonsei University were also part of Kim’s entourage in 2000.

Meanwhile, a replacement in the group for former chief presidential secretary for national policy Byeon Yang-kyoon, who resigned over a widening scandal, has not been decided.

(englishnews@chosun.com )