Inter-party conflict rages as election imminent
Kim Doo-gwan, an Uri Party gubernatorial candidate in South Gyeongsang province, asked for the resignation of party chair Chung Dong-young at a press conference May 28, three days before regional elections. "Persons who ruin the original intention of the party can’t stay in the party any longer," Mr. Kim said.Mr. Kim was angered with Mr. Chung’s proposed party merger with the Democratic Party (DP), and placed direct blame on Mr. Chung for the party’s anticipated failure in the elections, scheduled May 31. He said that Mr. Chung is trying to evade responsibility by pushing the DP merger as a distraction. "If [our party] couldn’t carry out reform with a majority in the National Assembly, it’s because the leader of the party is inefficient or has no philosophy of reform," Mr. Kim said. Lee Kang-chul, a former senior presidential secretary for civic and social affairs, also accused Chung of using the party realignment proposal as a "political trick." Lawmakers who have their foothold in South and North Gyeongsang provinces have criticized the unification bid as a return to regionalism in politics, which has historically held sway in South Korean elections. They say such a move is contrary to the original intentions of the party’s foundation, which brought together lawmakers from several different regions. Others see such a call as quixotic. Moon Jae-in, former senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, said that the Uri Party would "never merge with the DP." Fellow party members were divided about Mr. Kim’s remarks. A newly-elected member of the National Assembly said, "People will consider this as the stabbing of the general of our troops in the back. It is really inappropriate in terms of strength of remarks and timing." Indeed, the timing of Mr. Kim’s remarks, just three days before election day, was the major criticism leveled at him. A pro-President Roh Moo-hyun civil organization, in which Mr. Kim is involved, issued a statement that said, "It is not the time for a controversy over political realignment, or to debate who should bear responsibility [for the anticipated election results]."
