Political Realignment

After Uri Party’s floor leader Kim Han-gil publicized that he met with former Prime Minister Goh Kun and other potential electoral candidates for an alliance of potential candidates, political realignment is being actively discussed in the ruling Uri Party. Some concerns, however, that the discussion would overheat the political arena for Presidential election.

At an emergency planning conference held on September 25, Uri Party chairman Kim Geun-tae said, “Political realignment is the key issue. We will not be hasty nor experimental, but will do things all in good time.”

Kim emphasized, “A farmer plants and harvests at the proper season. Right now is the time for regular Assembly, to focus on state affairs rather than political realignment.”

Kim’s words means that the ruling Uri Party should look the political situation pragmatically and objectively in order not to lose the political realignment hegemony in the situation that the party’s approval rating is staggering and the party has no powerful Presidential candidate.

Analysts say that the fact that the results of the October 25 Incheon Namdongeul and Jeonnam Haenam-Jindo Assembly elections may be linked to the political realignment would pressure Kim.

But the possibility of moderating the political realignment pace remains unknown.

Temporarily staying in Korea from the U.S., Uri Party counselor Jeong Dae-cheol announced that he will hold a meeting with former Uri Party assemblymen on October 2. The issues will revolve around the unification of ruling party and other alliance-related topics.

Jeong is currently striving to stem the protests against the alliance by keeping in frequent contact with Uri Party and Millennium Democratic Party personnel. Former chairman Jeong Dong-young who is expected to return to Korea October 1, and former Justice Minister Cheon Jeong-bae are expected to affect the outcome of the debate as well.

Meanwhile, the Millennium Democratic Party is also reaching out for the political hegemony between Uri Party and Grand National Party.

Millennium Democratic Party floor leader Kim Hyo-seok held a press conference, saying, “Mutual alliance between Millennium Democratic Party and Grand National Party does not exist” and after criticizing Grand National Party, he spoke of Uri Party as well, “When they’re on a roll, they segregate the parties, but when they’re at a disadvantage, they want their strategic unification.”

It is construed that Kim’s remarks was aimed at the unfounded rumors regarding a mutual alliance, rather than denouncing alliances among parties.

After the press conference, Kim said, “We are ready to hold hands with anyone who shares the cause. Instead of grabbing for the power, we must grasp our politics first. For this, we should all work together.”

The Millennium Democratic Party is expected to effectively use the mutual alliance issue as leverage for political upheaval.

jin0619@donga.com