[Editorial] President’s Support Groups Should Not Become a Political Power

It seems that pro-Roh Moo-hyun groups are accelerating their efforts to throw their weight behind the ruling Uri Party. People’s Participatory Solidarity, led by members of Roh`s supporter group "Nosamo" (People Who Love Roh Moo-hyun), had its inauguration convention yesterday and said it would actively take part in every election for party posts. Lee Ki-myung, former head of the President’s support group, is sending open letters to “Nosamo” members to encourage them to join the party.

It is only natural for the public to join a political party they like in a democratic country like this. After all, the act of party members who paid for party expenses to make themselves heard in it and take party posts is the essential part of party politics. However, the current move of the pro-Roh Moo-hyun groups appears to be a far cry from mere joining of a party for good intentions. It rather feels they are striving to “gather” their members or to “occupy” the political circles only to increase the share of the party’s pie. It is to such an extent that it is not hard to suspect they are attempting to change the identity of the party from the one of lawmakers to the one of President Roh’s supporters.

Indeed, words are getting around near the ruling Uri Party that the pro-Roh Moo-hyun groups are seeking to “seize” or “completely transform” the party. Lee Ki-myung wrote in his open letter, “Our Nosamo members should transfuse our blood of passion to the party and pull together to transform it.”

In this New Year, the President has been stressing his resolution to resuscitate the public’s livelihood, economy, co-existence and solidarity. Some say that the President has changed. Yet, his supporters appear to have gained more aggressive fighting spirit than ever before regardless of the change the President is showing. They are even proud to reveal their exclusive self-righteous mindset that they are the only ones qualified enough to pursue reforms.

President’s support groups need to think whether what they are doing presently will do good to the President. The public, at this moment, are concerned that the ruling party, which is supposed to lead the national government in the right direction, may be controlled by its hardliners once again just like in the last year and hinder the recent government’s efforts to revive the economy and to work for the unity of the nation. Therein lies the reason the groups’ potential gaining of the political power is much feared. In this regard, President Roh Moo-hyun should draw a clear line and clarify whether his support groups’ move is in line with his intentions.