S. Korean ruling party chief to meet with Lee over party reform

South Korean ruling party chief said Wednesday he plans to meet with President Lee Myung-bak over the beleaguered party's reform measures. Chairman of the ruling Grand National Party Hong Joon-pyo announced his plan to meet with Lee at a party meeting, as reform- minded lawmakers blame Lee for the party's defeat in the crucial Seoul mayoral election. An independent candidate backed by the opposition won the election with support from young voters. The mayoral race was seen as a prelude to the parliamentary and presidential elections next year. The meeting, if held, comes shortly after a group of governing party lawmakers demanded Lee apologize for a controversial plan to build his post-retirement residence in an affluent Seoul neighborhood. Opposition lawmakers and media reports alleged irregularities in the land purchase, prompting Lee to withdraw his plan. The president, meanwhile, suggested in an interview with the U. S. public broadcaster NPR Wednesday that he will not respond to calls for an apology.