Presidential Race Coalitions Forming

The New Right Union, the largest group of the burgeoning new rights movement, announced yesterday that it plans to join a conservative coalition to succeed in the next presidential election. This announcement is expected to vitalize the current effort for a political reshuffle.

Kim Jin-hong, chairman of the New Right Union, attended a forum organized by ‘Wednesday Society for New Politics’ which is operated by young members of the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP), and said, “We will increase the number of members to 100,000 by the end of this year and strengthen our capability. Around March or April in the next year, we plan to seek solidarity with politicians like you, particularly belonging to political parties like Democratic Party and People First Party.”

In regard to cooperation between the GNP and Democratic Party, Kim provided an idea on the method behind it and said, “All politicians across parties have to make a strong cooperation to change the regime,” adding, “If two parties are merged, I think the name of the new party could be the Democratic Party. Party consolidation will be possible if GNP gives in a lot.” Kim seems to have a plan to mobilize all power of conservative parties such as the GNP, Democratic Party, and People First Party to win the next presidential election.

In response to this, the GNP appointed Yu Seok-chun, professor of Yonsei University and the former co-chairman of the New Right Union, as co-executive director of the party’s Movement Hub for True Politics at the same day. As another co-executive director, Kwon Young-se, senior member of the GNP, was appointed.

Given the ruling Uri Party’s effort to seek coalition among democratic groups to counter the GNP, people are wondering if the conservative bloc whose power is reinforced by the participation of the New Right Union can escalate the change of political trends now.

About this, Kim Gun-tae, chairman of the ruling Uri Party said, “If the GNP is moving to create expanded conservative bloc, we will counter this attack by working together with groups that devote themselves to democracy and peace.”

If fact, there have been many observations that predict the New Right Union will make its influence into the next presidential election campaign because the GNP needs the New Right Union in order to obtain political image as moderate conservative party based on rationality, while the union also needs the GNP to open a way to political participation.

Kang Jae-sup, chairman of the GNP and Lee Myung-bak, the former mayor of Seoul attended inauguration ceremony of the New Right’ Confederation of Trade Unions and stressed the importance of ideological harmony. On last Friday, Park Geun-hye, the former chairwoman of the GNP, also attended an inauguration of Daegu branch of New Rights Union. On last Wednesday, leading members of the New Right Union joined ‘one hundred day’s experience of citizens’ lives’ of the former Gyeonggi province Governor Sohn Hak-kyu.

Based on such previous contact with possible candidates of the next presidential election, Kim said yesterday, “Lee Myung-bak, the former mayor of Seoul, is a well-known able man and the former Gyeonggi province Governor Sohn Hak-kyu has done a great job in attracting foreign capital and advancing education sectors. Once I had a meal together with Park Geun-hye, the former chairwoman of the GNP, I found out that Park is also an outstanding figure. I don’t care who the next presidential election candidate will be. However, we should select one figure to win the election.”

The current new right movement is divided into two parts. One is the liberal coalition led by Shin Ji-ho, professor of Sogang University. The other is National Conference for Advancement led by Park Se-il, the former member of the GNP.

While many political aspirants join the New Right Union, other groups of new right movement keep distance themselves from direct political participation. In addition to this, if hawkish conservative politicians who are deeply involved in debate about the redemption of wartime operational control join this move, a large number of new right movement groups might show antipathy against the conservative move for coalitions.

Even though the GNP pursues cooperation with Democratic Party as a part of conservative coalition plan that encompass all conservative blocs including new right groups and hawkish conservatives, the GNP should consider the likelihood that the Democratic Party can’t join the move because of local antagonism that is very related to the party’s identity. In regard to this, Kim Hyo-seok, floor leader of Democratic Party said, “If the GNP addresses this issue continuously because it believes there is nothing to lose for the party, I will take an action to prevent it.”

jkmas@donga.com