Push For Political Realignment Based on Multiparty System

Reform-minded lawmakers of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party, made up of close allies of President Roh Moo-hyun, have decided to create a new political party with the participation of four to five existing political entities on the premise that they distance themselves from the “old guard” of the ruling party.

As a result, the reformist factions plan to take steps to push ahead with political reform by laying an institutional framework to guarantee a multiparty system. This would include expansion of the party register system, along with the formation of a new party.

Key allies of the president within the MDP including Rep. Lee Hae-chan, Shin Gi-nam, and Chun Jung-bae agreed on the need to limit some of the older MDP officials and high-powered political figures from participation in the new party. They decided to hold a forum on May 6 to discuss details of the formation of a new party including the new party`s political doctrine and major policies.

“The newly-envisaged party will focus on national unity rather than integration of MDP lawmakers,” said Rep. Lee Hae-chan after the meeting. Based on this remark, it was made clear that he is against the idea presented by MDP moderates and former President Kim Dae-jung`s loyalists that the new party be based on incorporation of all those party members in favor of political reform.

“If those with vested interests participated in the new party, the future political landscape in Korea would be led by a multiparty system with more than four political parties on the political scene,” a senior official from the ruling camp said.

“As such, political issues will be discussed through close consultation between political parties. I think President Roh`s remark on TV recently, in which he said he was not overly concerned with the ruling party taking majority seats in the National Assembly, shows that the president also supports a multiparty system.”

Key allies of the president decided to present a resolution calling for dissolution of the MDP at a party meeting. They also said that they would create a new party with opposition Grand National Party`s reformists and other reform-minded figures, if their opinions were not heard at the MDP meeting.

Meanwhile, high-profile figures from Busan declared Friday that they would band together as a political force to take the lead in the establishment of the new party. Lawyer Cho Seong-lae, leader of the group, said the tentatively named "Busan Political Reform Promotion Committee" would be officially launched on May 9. This coincides with the growing movement inside the ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) to form an entirely new political camp.

Rep. Rhyu Shi-min of the splinter People`s Party for Reform called for an immediate forum to discuss matters on the creation of a united party by reformists. He said that a decision on who would participate in the new party should be made within this month and that the new party be established by the end of July.

However, factional feuding within the MDP seems to be inevitable because older party members including Supreme Council Chairman Han Kwang-ok, Floor Leader Jung Kyun-whan and Rep. Kim Sang-hyun, voiced their opposition to the reform-minded junior lawmakers` move. “The move will lead to a breakup of the MDP,” they stated, implying that they favor a new party encompassing all members of the ruling party.

Seung-Mo Yoon Seung-Heon Lee ysmo@donga.com ddr@donga.com