By Sang-Hun Choe
Associated Press Writer
Friday, Feb. 25, 2000; 3:42 a.m. EST

SEOUL, South Korea –– Splitting the opposition ahead of upcoming parliamentary elections, breakaway politicians said Friday they will form a new party.

Four key factional leaders have bolted from the main opposition Grand National Party this month after it announced a list of candidates for the April 13 elections.

The list excluded many important opposition figures. Most of the omitted politicians are critics of incumbent party leader Lee Hoi-chang, a former prime minister and supreme court justice. The disgruntled politicians accused both President Kim Dae-jung and main opposition leader Lee of maneuvering to eliminate rivals ahead of the vote.

In a joint news conference on Friday, the opposition leaders said they would join two minor groups to form a new party by early next month.

The new party would be headed by former Seoul mayor Cho Soon.

In South Korea, political bosses nominate virtually all the candidates for their parties. All political parties are regionally based, and party nomination often means election in rural provinces.

Many candidates bribe party leaders for the nomination, critics say.

A split in the opposition party is welcome news for President Kim's ruling New Millennium Democratic Party, which enters the elections after a series of corruption scandals tainted the image of Kim's two-year-old government.