Leaders of four opposition parties and social and civic groups have urged a fundamental shift in the government in order to unite the nation.

Chairmen of the main opposition Democratic Party, the Democratic Labor Party, the Renewal of Korea Party and the New Progressive Party held a meeting Tuesday. They were joined by Seoul National University emeritus professor Paik Nak-chung, lawyer Park Won-soon and other social figures.

In a statement released after the meeting, the participants said President Lee Myung-bak must do a better job of communicating with the public by ending his one-way operation of state affairs.

They urged the government to give up its media reform law, shift the focus of economic and social policies to the working class, and work to restore ties with North Korea.

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