New Phase of the GNP Presidential Primary

President of the Grand National Party (GNP), Yi Hoe-Chang, resigned the presidency on April 2 to run as a party presidential candidate in primary, and Representative Yi Bu-Young officially declared his candidacy through a press conference, and in addition to that, Representative Choi Byoung-Ryoul expressed interest in participation in the party primary. These turn of events changed the presidential primary situation of the GNP rapidly.

Additionally, Representative Yi Sang-Hee is going to declare his presidential candidacy on April 4, Representatives Kim Deok-Ryoung and Kim Hong-Sin will also finally anNounce their decisions on whether to run for the presidency on April 4 or 5. These events will change the GNP’s presidential primaries race from the hitherto expected dominance of Yi Hoe-Chang to a maximum six candidate racing.

Fourth term Representative Choi, whose birthplace is Sancheong, KyoungNam Province, met with journalists and said, ` am thinking hard whether president Yi’s popularity may actually turn better, which is Now far laggard to No Mu-Hyeon` and then added, ` I am Not yet prepared to say finally I would run in the primary, but I have decided in my mind.`

He added also,` Many more people worry about the various changes of the situation and it is Not a surprise that almost all the person I meet express their opinions on this.`

Earlier, Representative Yi Bu-Young held a press conference in the party headquarters of Yoi-Do, Seoul, and declared running for party presidential candidacy saying ` Due to the insensitivity of the GNP and arrogance of party president Yi Hoe-Chang who only dwelled on main stream theory, people have turned their backs to us, and our burning desire to assume the next government may Not be realized.`

Additionally he said, `the formula of presidential elections so far focused on regional hegemonism for victory is breaking down and I will be an alternative solution as I am going to defeat president Yi in the primary who is sure to lose when this trend continues.`

In a related story, president Yi resign the party presidency and designated the chairmen of the special party for party harmony and development Park Gwan-Yong as the acting party president in the operations committee meeting of the party central committee in the same day, saying `I will open a curtain of new stage after throwing off everything I have.` Also he criticized the current government saying, `No government regime in our history has declared that it would destroy the opposition camp openly as is the case with the current regime and driving for regrouping of political circles and the extension attempt to rule once more through this will never succeed.`

In-Soo Song issong@donga.com · Yeon-Wook Jung jyw11@donga.com