Yesterday’s Political Enemies Work for Same Presidential Candidate

An old saying has it that in politics, yesterday’s enemy is your friend tomorrow.

The old saying is true of the veteran politicians campaigning for the two leading presidential candidates former Seoul Mayor Lee Myeong-bak and former Grand National Party (“GNP”) leader Park Geun-hye.

For Lee, Vice Speaker of the House Lee Sang-deuk, joint GNP campaign supervision board chairmen Park Hee-tae and Kim Deok-ryong, and GNP senior member Lee Jae-oh work together. On the other hand, senior GNP members Seo Cheong-won, Choi Byeong-ryeol, and Hong Sa-deok support Park.

All of them once led the party as part of its leadership. Some of them still work as a team now, despite their past rivalry.

War of Multi-term “Stars” -

Counting the terms that the seven GNP members have served, the total comes to 32 terms. Lee Sang-deuk, Park Hee-tae and Kim Deok-ryong have served five terms each. Park’s campaigners, Park and Hong, have also won five congressional elections. Choi has served four terms, and Lee Jae-oh three.

Along with incumbent Vice Speaker of the House Lee Sang-deuk, two other congressmen have served the country in the same capacity: Park Hee-tae and Hong Sa-deok. Seo, and Choi led the GNP as chairmen, and Kim and Lee Jae-oh served as floor whips.

Long, Convoluted Personal Histories-

Kim Deok-ryong, who recently jointed Lee’s camp, was once pushed up against the wall. His own party, or the GNP, filed a criminal claim with the DA’s office, accusing Kim of bribery concerning nomination of a GNP candidate in the last local election. Kim’s wife was given a suspended sentence from the court. At that time, Lee Jae-oh led the party. They reportedly have not settled their old “emotional feud” yet.

Park’s senior campaigners Choi and Seo once worked for the Chosun Ilbo together. Seo first became a congressional member. Despite their same “root,” they have been at odds with each other due to their different political positions. In the race for the party chairmanship, which took place after the GNP’s loss in the 2002 presidential election, the two fiercely vied against each other for almost six months to win the title. Choi finally won it, leaving a lingering scar on their relationship.

On the contrary, some campaigners have maintained a long-lasting friendship despite their different political lines. Lee’s campaigner Kim Deok-ryong and Park’s campaigner Hong graduated from Seoul National University in the same class, and maintained their friendship ever since. Preparing for the 16th presidential election, it was Kim who talked Hong into joining the party in 2000.

Role Players in Recruitment of Campaigners -

Vice Speaker Lee reportedly played a huge role in talking Park Hee-tae into joining Lee’s camp. The two political figures are the remaining veteran GNP members. This bond was the force in pulling them together. They have served as congressmen together since the 13th Congress.

Personal relationships with the candidates sometimes played a role.

Kim Deok-ryong boasts of a long-lasting relationship with former Mayor Lee. To persuade Kim, both of former Mayor Lee and his wife reportedly rolled up their sleeves. That is why Kim decided to support Lee despite his lingering feud with Lee Jae-oh.

In the meanwhile, Seo once said, “I owe Park [Geun-hye] a big favor.” To pay back the favor, he said he would support Park. When Seo was behind bars for violation of the election law, Park paid visits to Seo’s wife to comfort her. Despite the “courtship” of Lee, Hong chose Park. Park is heard to have won Hong with her sincere, persistent persuasion.

mhpark@donga.com