GNP in Internal Feud over By-election Defeat

“Chairman Kang Jae-sup, who caused many troubles leading up to the by-election in exercising the privilege of nominating candidates, should step down to take responsibility for the defeat.”

Jeon Yeo-ok, a member of the Grand National Party’s supreme council, called for Chairman Kang Jae-sup to resign. She announced her resignation on Thursday in order to take responsibility for the April 25th by-election loss.

She said in an interview with this paper in Seoul on Friday, “Chairman Kang should take the most responsibility for the by-election results. He seems to remain in the chairman position for his personal interests, but he must step down in order to help the party to win in the upcoming presidential election.”

She added, “Throughout his term as party chairman, he has showed incompetence, irresoluteness and has failed to live up to the position. In particular, he was unprofessional as a leader in his flattery of the presidential candidates, which only weakened the party’s status.”

She further expressed her opinion, saying, “If the prosecution convened him to investigate the alleged proxy payment for a fine for default, he would only bring humiliation to the party. He must give up the position for the future of the party. I strongly believe that all the incumbent leadership and executive staff members should resign to show the public our determination to reform the party.”

Concerning the defeat in the Daejeon district, she disclosed, “Representative Kang Jae-sup said on Wednesday at the supreme council, ‘Although I persuaded Representative Kang Chang-hee to run for the election, he turned it down.’ But, in fact, the opposite is true. Representative Kang Chang-hee decided to declare his candidacy, but his intention was turned away by Chairman Kang Jae-sup.”

“I had commissioned a reliable survey agency to analyze the prospects of the by-election in the Daejeon district and its prediction was that we would surpass the candidate Shim Dae-pyeong if Representative Kang Chang-hee would run in the election. Chairman Kang, however, turned a deaf ear to my persuasion.”

When asked about an alternative for “the party system under Chairman Kang,” she responded, “We should establish an emergency committee to bring an all-out reform to the party. I personally believe that Representative Hong Jun-pyo, who distances himself from the two presidential candidates, could lead the committee.”

Meanwhile, former GNP supreme council member Kang Chang-hee said in a telephone interview, “Chairman Kang once suggested me to run, but he wasn’t that serious.” He added, “Right after the by-election results were revealed, Chairman Kang visited me and said, ‘The whole leadership could suffer a serious setback if you resign. Please do not convene the press conference.’ So I said I would think about it.”

sunshade@donga.com