South Korea: Easy Kim, Easy Go

As the candidate of the breakaway Party for Peace and Democracy, Kim Dae Jung, 62, got much of the blame last December for dividing the opposition and thus ensuring victory for the ruling Democratic Justice Party in South Korea's first free presidential elections in 16 years. Last week Kim resigned as party chief to smooth the way for the P.P.D. to rejoin forces with the Reunification Democratic Party. That party's leader, Kim Young Sam, 60, stepped down in a similar gesture last month. With elections for the 299-seat National Assembly scheduled for April 26, the P.P.D. chief said he did not want to ruin the "last chance" to unite those opposed to President Roh Tae Woo, 55.

Kim Dae Jung's hand was forced when the R.D.P. planned a partial merger with two small parties, threatening to leave the P.P.D. in the political wilderness. Will the P.P.D. and the R.D.P. find it easier to cooperate now that the strong-willed Kims are gone? Probably not: already there is haggling over who should lead a reunified opposition.