GNP Calculates Odds on Sohn’s Primary Boycott

Former Gyeonggi Province Governor Sohn Hak-kyu is expected to announce his decision as early as Monday on whether to run in the presidential primaries of the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) or whether to bolt from the party.

“He will answer questions probably tomorrow or the day after tomorrow,” Park Jong-hee, chief secretary to Sohn, said on Sunday,

Although Sohn left Seoul on Thursday and stayed at a temple in Mt. Seorak, Gangwon Province, he moved to another area after he was exposed to the media on Saturday. “Sohn told one of his aides to wait until he makes contact first. He has been staying in a place where you cannot even make a phone call,” an official of Sohn’s camp said. Meanwhile, some have started to speculate that Sohn may not only refuse to contest the upcoming primaries but also withdraw from the party.

However, some pundits point out that Sohn, who is well aware of the consequences of Rhee In-je’s bolting from the party, will not leave the party, either dramatically joining the intra-party race or waiting for another chance while remaining in the party.

However, some lawmakers of the GNP argue that boycotting the party primaries is virtually a natural extension of Sohn’s defection. They say that you cannot rule out the possibility of him bolting from the party to create his own political party or joining forces with the governing camp with relatively reform-minded conservatives. In other words, they suspect that Sohn may leave the party sooner or later when a turning point occurs.

Amid the rising possibility of Sohn’s boycotting the primaries, the party leadership and young liberal lawmakers are raising their voices along with GNP presidential hopefuls, saying that they should prevent Sohn from leaving the party.

“Sohn Hak-kyu’s ideological diversity and reform-oriented mind are precious values that the GNP should pursue. Party Chairman Kang Jae-sup wants to discuss not only the party`s primary election rules but also the management of the party,” Yoo Ki-jun, the GNP spokesman said on Sunday. Although Kang was on his way to Baedamsa to meet with Sohn on Saturday, he returned to Seoul because Sohn refused to meet him.

“The result can be attributed to the laziness of reform-minded lawmakers, including myself. We considered him a simple decoration and did not treat him properly,” Nam Kyung-pil, lawmaker of the GNP, said.

Meanwhile, former Seoul mayor Lee Myung-pak and former GNP chairwoman Park Geun-hae said on that day, “We should stick together, especially when where is a tough road ahead.”

myzodan@donga.com