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Chung Dong-young, chairman of Uri Party
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Uri members break into ’realist’ and ’idealist’ camps
The internal strife within the ruling Uri Party, which expects a resounding defeat in tomorrow’s regional elections, seems divided into realist and idealist factions, according to political observers.
So-called Uri Party idealists, their critics say, almost automatically reject the proposal by
party ’realists’ to form a coalition with other reform forces, including the minor opposition Democratic Party, in order to consolidate power. They have come up with no substantial alternative plan, however, these critics level.
Party ’realists,’ on the other hand, are faulted for their reluctance to admit that their plan to create the Uri Party from scratch two years ago might have been a failure.
Party ’realists,’ on the other hand, are faulted for their reluctance to admit that their plan to create the Uri Party from scratch two years ago might have been a failure.
So-called realists in the party include chairman Chung Dong-young, Rep. Kim Keun-tae, secretary general Yeom Dong-youn, a close confidante to President Roh Moo-hyun, and the "386 generation" of reformist lawmakers.
This group gives priority to retaining a firm grasp on political dominance. "To seize political power is the best reform," said Rep. Im Jong-seok, former pro-democracy activist. Former National Assembly speaker Kim Won-ki, who retired from his post May 29, has said that after 15 years of reformist democratic control of the Blue House, the conservative Grand National Party taking the reins would be tantamount to a retreat by reformists. But these ’realists’ in the Uri Party worry that the ’Roh camp’ lacks the will to grasp political power again.
The so-called realists also criticized the president’s close group for being regionalist, a factor often affecting elections in South Korea. "Those who join a political party relying on regionalism, which we have made utmost efforts to overcome, are betraying the trust and hope of the public. They can’t be spared the criticism that they sell reform to seize power," said Rep. Kim Doo-gwan, the Uri candidate of South Gyeongsang Province, referring to the ’Roh camp’ of the Uri Party.
Whether seen to be on the realist or idealist side of the equation, all Uri Party members understand that tomorrow’s election results will most likely make a strong plan of action necessary for their party’s survival.
