GNP Internal Discord on Issue of Party Reform

The Grand Naitonal Party (GNP) leadership including party leader Suh Cheong-weon gathered at a restaurant in Yeouido, central Seoul, on Sunday. They did to discuss its future course including party reorganization ahead of a meeting of lawmakers and heads of party branch offices Scheduled for Monday.

Participants reached agreement on the necessity of strengthening party unity and reform, according to GNP spokesman Nam Kyung-pil. The idea of the current supreme council members’ collective resignation was raised, but they are likely to remain in their posts until the change of the GNP leadership. The participants came to an agreement on the necessity of setting up a committee for party reform.

Though the conservative party reached agreement on the necessity in general, they are likely to go through internal discord on detailed ways.

First of all, there was a heated debate on when a national convention should be held.

Rep. Suh asserts that it should be held before the inauguration of a new government in order to reorganize the party. Though under the party rules a new leadership should be formed in May next year, he is insisting on advancing the convention. However, supreme council member Park Hui-tae and Kim Jin-jae countered that given there was no agreement on what should be changed, holding an early national convention would make no good.

Also, the formation of a new leadership is a hot potato. In that the hole left by step-down of Lee Hoi-chang, who had strong control of the GNP, is very large, creation of a new leadership to replace Lee is not likely to be easy. The prediction is that Rep. Suh remains in office while Rep. Choi Byung-ryul and Kim Dunk-ryong, who have been for political reform, will come to the surface.

Another item in the GNP debate is generation change and the scope of party reform. The current leadership is insisting on control of reform speed, while the young faction made up of first- or second-term lawmakers are strongly voicing their demand for reform.

Rep. Kim Bu-gyum said, "At this point, the party leadership should not respond in a way they did in the past, such as just holding the national convention." Rep. Kim Young-chun also put emphasis on in-death reform saying, "We were rejected by young voters. So we should undergo `intensive surgery.` "

The solidarity for the future, a group of younger lawmakers, discussed measures to reorganize the party at a restaurant in downtown Seoul on Sunday afternoon.

Yeon-Wook Jung jyw11@donga.com