Seoul Area-TK-PK, Locally Confronting Race

The main opposition Grand National Party’s in-house race to elect a new floor leader shows colliding trends in each of three regions.

Last week, two to three lawmakers, who have all been elected more than three times, expressed their willingness to run for election each of three different regions, the Seoul area, Daegu/Kyeongbuk (TK), and Busan/Kyeongnam (PK). In an effort to be elected as a single candidate in his region, each runner is now attempting to gain momentum and to build strategic cooperation.

In PK, three-term lawmakers Rep. Kwon Chul-hyeon, Rep. Kim Moo-sung, and Rep. Chung Ui-wha, threw their hats into the ring.

Rep. Chung has already set up an election camp and is aiming his campaign to target lawmakers from the Seoul area as well as the PK area. Rep. Kim Moo-sun and Rep. Kwon Chul-hyeon, on the other hand, revealed their intentions for the first time at a celebrating party for the 17th elects last week.

While Rep. Kim is now increasing his contact with assemblymen from the Seoul and Kyeonggi areas, Rep. Kwon is believed to be striving for strategic cooperation with young, reform-minded legislators who prefer the maintenance of the party’s current system, by advocating the “Two-top system” (chairman and floor leader).

In the TK area, three-term lawmakers Rep Ahn Taek-soo and Rep. Rim In-bae declared their running in the race while stressing being local representatives.

Meanwhile, in the Seoul area, Rep. Kim Deog-ryong, having served five terms, and Rep. Kim Mon-so and Rep. Rhe Q-taek with three terms under their belts, are expected to join the race. Rep. Kim Deong-ryong is now gaining support from some young lawmakers.

Rep. Won Hee-ryong, a young, reform-minded lawmaker, said, “We (a group of reform-minded lawmakers) have not come to a conclusion that we should support Rep. Kim Deong-ryong. However, Rep. Kim may be the best candidate to lead the 17th National Assembly as a floor leader, which is forecasted to play a critical role in settling the party’s justness.”

However, some concerns are arising over whether Rep. Kim garners more support from young people than Rep. Chun Jung-bae (Uri Party), who is highly likely to emerge as his counterpart. Meanwhile, Rep. Kim Moon-soo hinted at his willingness to run by answering to questions from the press with, “Let’s wait and see”. In addition, Rep. Rhee Q-taek said, “Regardless of my intention, there is some buzz going around regarding my running in the race.”

However, chances are the in-house race will be greatly influenced according to how current debates about the altering leadership system are settled.

Namely, in the event of the collective leadership system being favored, it is very likely that those showing willingness to run in the race, mostly having served more than three times, would shift their focus to top executive lawmakers. Yet, if the main opposition party picks up the “Two-top system”, increasingly more lawmakers who hold equivalent careers with those who have already expressed interest in running would likely follow suit.

Myoung-Gun Lee Min-Hyuk Park gun43@donga.com mhpark@donga.com