Candidates trade barbs as they vie for top opposition party helm
The race to be the chair of main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) is turning out to be a two-way confrontation between the party’s former and current floor leaders, Kang Jae-sup and Lee Jae-oh. Both men announced their candidacy on Tuesday. Kang told a press conference at party headquarters that he was sacrificing the opportunity to run for the GNP’s presidential nomination in order to vie for the party’s leadership position. "Believing it is time to sacrifice and work for a change of government, I am giving up all ambition as a potential presidential candidate and running for party chairman," he said, pledging to resign from politics if the GNP’s presidential candidate does not win next year’s election. Kang went on the attack by suggesting that the choice of a chairperson who is personally close to one of the party’s potential presidential nominees would lead to "conflict and division." Kang was referring to his rival Lee, who is believed to have aligned himself with Seoul mayor Lee Myung-bak, who has made no secret of his presidential ambitions.According to the GNP’s constitution, the party chairperson must not also be its presidential candidate within one year and six months of a presidential election. Park Geun-hye recently resigned as chairwoman in order to seek the party's presidential nomination. Lee called a press conference on Tuesday to announce that his campaign will officially begin July 2. In response to questions about his relationship with Seoul’s mayor, he asked, "Who aren’t I close to?" In what appears to be a criticism of Kang, Lee said he "doesn’t do the kind of self-interested politics in which you run [for party chair] because it looks like you’ll never get to be the presidential candidate." Noting that Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak both have family backgrounds from Daegu, Lee said the party chairperson should not be from the same region, as regionalism has often colored South Korean politics. Kang’s family is from Daegu. Meanwhile, Chun Yo-ok also announced her intention to seek the party’s leadership position on Tuesday. "I will not be scared of losing blood, but will make my way through the thornbush," she said. According to the party constitution, there must be at least one woman on the supreme council. Candidates who are not chosen for the post of chairpersonship are given spots on the supreme council. Therefore, providing no other woman runs for chairperson, Chun will automatically join the GNP’s supreme council.
