S. Korea's ruling party former No. 2 becomes Red Cross chief+

0 Comments | Asian Political News, Jan 1, 2001

SEOUL, Dec. 28 Kyodo

South Korea's National Red Cross on Thursday elected Suh Young Hoon, former No. 2 leader of President Kim Dae Jung's Millennium Democratic Party, as its president, to succeed Chang Choong Sik.

Suh, 77, was until Tuesday party chairman, one rank below the party president, who is Kim.

The outgoing Red Cross chief Chang tendered his resignation on Saturday, after being criticized by North Korea.

In a statement, Chang apologized for hurting the feelings of the North Korean authorities. He had said in a magazine interview that there is no freedom in the North, drawing fire from Pyongyang.

South Korea's National Red Cross has been a channel through which to promote private-level exchanges between the two Koreas, including reunions of separated families.

Before joining the ruling party in January, Suh, who was born in a part of what is now North Korea, served in the National Red Cross for 30 years.

Suh will take over the three-year Red Cross presidency early next month after obtaining approval from Kim, who is honorary president of the Red Cross Society.