By Lee Jin-woo
Staff Reporter

President Roh Moo-hyun said Monday that top priority should be given to social integration to realize a more balanced and democratic society.

In a speech delivered at the National Cemetery in Tongjak-dong, Seoul, to mark the 50th Memorial Day, Roh called for more cooperation from the public for his policies to develop less privileged sectors and to narrow gaps between the haves and have-nots. He also asked for more acceptance of decisions reached through reasonable discussion, even if some are hard-to-swallow.

Roh defined social integration as ``being able to reach a nationwide consensus when change is required, overcoming conflict and disintegration.’’

He described establishing a ``well-balanced society’’ and laying the groundwork for a ``more mature democratic society’’ as two major requirements for social integration.

Roh emphasized that Korea could become a well-balanced society if people thought of cooperation as mutually good instead of harmful.

He asked people to pay attention to government policies, including the building of an administrative town in South Chungchong Province, the relocating of state-run enterprises out of Seoul, supporting non-regular workers and providing more favorable conditions for small- and medium-sized companies.

He reiterated the importance of dialogue and compromise to attain the goal of establishing a more mature democratic society.

``I hope that once a solution is worked out through a reasonable decision-making process, people will actively accept the new way,’’ he said.

Roh’s speech came after a series of recent controversies in the nation.

To name a few, prosecutors and police have failed to compromise over proposed adjustments to their investigative rights. In addition, the Presidential Commission on Judicial Reform’s plan to revise the nation’s code of criminal procedure has raised strong opposition from prosecutors, as it is likely to significantly weaken their power and authority.

Besides, some 400 high school students gathered in central Seoul earlier last month to hold a candlelight vigil in protest of a government plan to introduce a more competitive college admission system for the 2008 academic year.

On Sunday, Roh was quoted as saying, ``One of the most difficult tasks is to heal the feelings of hatred and wrath deeply rooted in Korean society.’’

Yoon Tai-young, a presidential aide, explained that confrontations in Korean society between the privileged and less privileged, have frustrated Roh.

Roh has also been facing internal and external criticism against his policies and aides due to a series of scandals involving his confidants, including his right-hand man, Rep. Lee Kwang-jae of the ruling Uri Party.

Some ruling party lawmakers, including Rep. Jeong Jang-seon, publicly criticized Roh, saying that Roh’s policies are based on idealism.

He pledged to provide more support for the families of those who lost their lives for the country. ``We have been able to overcome hardships in the past, including the 35-year Japanese colonial period, the 1950-53 Korean War and the decades-long military dictatorship, thanks to our patriotic predecessors.’’

Among those present at the Memorial Day ceremony were Grand National Party chairwoman Park Geun-hye and Seoul Mayor Lee Myung-bak as well as family members of soldiers killed during the Korean War.

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