(EDITORIAL from the Korea Herald on April 8)

dailies-editorials (1)



Opposition woes

It is quite unusual when an unsuccessful presidential candidate from a major
party fails to win nomination for a parliamentary by-election. The unanimous
decision on Monday by the Democratic Party's executive committee to deny Chung
Dong-young party candidacy in his hometown in North Jeolla Province has drawn
protests from party veterans. Chung indicated that he would run for the April 29
election as an independent.

When Chung, 55, declared his intention to run for the by-election in the Deokjin
district last month just before returning home from a year-long stay in the
United States, his former colleagues were divided in their reaction. Present
Chairman Chung Sye-kyun and many of the younger lawmakers opposed his candidacy
in his hometown on the grounds that such a move would hamper efforts to transform
the party. The DP wants to become a nationally-based political force rather than
a regional party that relies on traditional support from the southwest.
The opponents suggested that Chung run in the Bupyeong district of Incheon,
riding on his national fame as a former presidential candidate. But Chung would
not change his mind. Having failed in his candidacy in a Seoul district in the
general elections last year, he chose the safe option. Members of the old guard
in the party issued a statement supporting Chung's decision.
The intra-party tussle is most regrettable, as it diverts the party's energy from
the task of checking the Lee Myung-bak administration's policies to tackle the
current economic hardships. Chairman Chung held fruitless talks with the other
Chung when North Korea fired a Taepodong-2 rocket. As if reflecting current
confusion in the party's leadership, the opposition produced a largely
unconvincing statement blaming the Lee government's "hardline policy" toward the
North for its long-range rocket launch.
With a strategy to use the first by-elections since the April 2008 parliamentary
elections as an opportunity for an "interim judgment" of the Lee administration,
the opposition is desperate to win three of the five seats up for grabs. Yet, the
dispute over Chung Dong-young's nomination is hurting the opposition party's
image so much that its prospects for swing seat Bupyeong are becoming bleak.
Gyeongju, in the ruling Grand National Party stronghold of the southeast and
Ulsan, traditionally Democratic Labor Party turf, are beyond the reach of the
Democratic Party.
Whatever personal sentiment may be gripping Chung Dong-young, his intent to run
as an independent in his hometown hardly matches his stature as a former
presidential candidate who garnered 26 percent of the vote. He might feel
betrayed by his former colleagues, especially by Chung Sye-kyun, but he should be
reminded that leaving the party over a nomination dispute is tantamount to
abandoning his political identity. Here we would like to advise the two Chungs to
recite once again the famous dictum of the Korean opposition: "Do not burn your
cottage to kill a bug."

(END)