ID :
54832
Fri, 04/10/2009 - 19:46
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/54832
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Chung quits main opposition party to run independently in by-election
SEOUL, April 10 (Yonhap) -- Chung Dong-young, a former Cabinet minister and head of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), withdrew from the party on Friday and vowed to run independently in an upcoming by-election after having failed to win a nomination for his hometown district.
The defection of the political heavyweight, a former contender in the 2007
presidential election, is expected to deal a blow to the opposition party's
reputation, already tarnished by an unfolding bribery scandal involving key
members as well as former President Roh Moo-hyun and his family.
"I'm taking off my DP hat for now but will return. I offered my hand to help out
(the party) but doubts have become reality," Chung said at a press conference at
the DP headquarters in Seoul after submitting his party withdrawal form.
The press conference took place as the DP leadership was in the final stages of
completing its candidate nomination process for the April 29 by-election, when
five parliamentary seats will be up for grabs.
Chung, a former reporter for broadcaster MBC, left for the U.S. in July 2008 to
study political science at Duke University in North Carolina, in what many saw as
"political exile." He returned to South Korea earlier this year to restart his
political career.
"I returned home to help out the troubled party but the leaders have made a
decision that runs counter to party members' wishes," said Chung.
Kim Keun-sik, a North Korea specialist at Kyungnam University, is expected to be
tapped as the DP's candidate for the district and go head-to-head with Chung.
The party's exclusion of Chung from the district nomination comes as it tries to
renew its image as a party representing the whole nation, not just its key
constituencies. The DP also hopes to use the by-election to rejuvenate its
offense against the conservative government and the ruling party, which enjoys a
comfortable majority in the National Assembly.
Chung's move was preempted earlier in the day by an announcement by Chung
Sye-kyun, the current DP chairman, who promised not to run as a candidate in the
2012 general elections in his current district, also in North Jeolla Province, in
a desperate attempt to sway the former minister from jumping ship.
"I cannot understand why he (the current DP head) made such an announcement at
this time," Chung Dong-young said.
Chung suggested that his departure may be temporary, as he urged his supporters
inside the DP to remain with the party and not follow suit. He immediately headed
to Jeonju to prepare for his campaign.
The disrupting news for the liberal party came amid an unfolding investigation
into a businessman who has confessed to handing out billions of won to the family
of former President Roh, his close aides and a number of influential DP figures.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
The defection of the political heavyweight, a former contender in the 2007
presidential election, is expected to deal a blow to the opposition party's
reputation, already tarnished by an unfolding bribery scandal involving key
members as well as former President Roh Moo-hyun and his family.
"I'm taking off my DP hat for now but will return. I offered my hand to help out
(the party) but doubts have become reality," Chung said at a press conference at
the DP headquarters in Seoul after submitting his party withdrawal form.
The press conference took place as the DP leadership was in the final stages of
completing its candidate nomination process for the April 29 by-election, when
five parliamentary seats will be up for grabs.
Chung, a former reporter for broadcaster MBC, left for the U.S. in July 2008 to
study political science at Duke University in North Carolina, in what many saw as
"political exile." He returned to South Korea earlier this year to restart his
political career.
"I returned home to help out the troubled party but the leaders have made a
decision that runs counter to party members' wishes," said Chung.
Kim Keun-sik, a North Korea specialist at Kyungnam University, is expected to be
tapped as the DP's candidate for the district and go head-to-head with Chung.
The party's exclusion of Chung from the district nomination comes as it tries to
renew its image as a party representing the whole nation, not just its key
constituencies. The DP also hopes to use the by-election to rejuvenate its
offense against the conservative government and the ruling party, which enjoys a
comfortable majority in the National Assembly.
Chung's move was preempted earlier in the day by an announcement by Chung
Sye-kyun, the current DP chairman, who promised not to run as a candidate in the
2012 general elections in his current district, also in North Jeolla Province, in
a desperate attempt to sway the former minister from jumping ship.
"I cannot understand why he (the current DP head) made such an announcement at
this time," Chung Dong-young said.
Chung suggested that his departure may be temporary, as he urged his supporters
inside the DP to remain with the party and not follow suit. He immediately headed
to Jeonju to prepare for his campaign.
The disrupting news for the liberal party came amid an unfolding investigation
into a businessman who has confessed to handing out billions of won to the family
of former President Roh, his close aides and a number of influential DP figures.
odissy@yna.co.kr
(END)
