Kim blamed for crisis

Seoul - South Korea's opposition candidate, Mr Kim Daejung, yesterday said President Kim Young-sam was responsible for the country…

Seoul - South Korea's opposition candidate, Mr Kim Daejung, yesterday said President Kim Young-sam was responsible for the country's financial crisis and demanded he issue an emergency decree to fix it.

"In only five years, the Kim Young-sam administration and (Kim's party) have turned our economy into this state and I will definitely hold them responsible," Mr Kim Dae-jung told a news conference.

With South Korea's financial crisis overshadowing the presidential election on December 18th, the three main candidates have articulated broadly similar economic policies, endorsing Seoul's approach to the International Monetary Fund for loans. Mr Kim Daejung (73), running for the fourth time with his best chance at winning, demanded Mr Kim issue an emergency presidential decree on economic issues.