Democratic Labor Party Seeks Reform

The next head of the progressive Democratic Liberal Party said Thursday, “Our humiliating defeat in the last presidential election is the ultimatum that the people gave to the party to change. The party is now marking a turning point in its eight-year history.”

Shim Sang-jeong is so worried about her party, which faces a split due to internal dissent, she often wakes up in the middle of the night. She said, however, “We will move towards one direction -- progressive politics -- that the people want.”

She repeatedly used the term “reform” during her one-hour interview with the Dong-A Ilbo Thursday at party headquarters in Seoul. “Through reform and dialog with the people, we will transform into another progressive party.”

The following is details of the interview.

Q: Party members are defecting from the party, saying it’s lost its qualification as a progressive party. What is your view?

Shim: It’s not a split. The defections have revealed differing opinions in methodology on how to mend the decrepit elements of the party and how it can emerge as a robust progressive party. If reform is carried out, speculation on the creation of a new party will fade away and those who have left can rejoin.

Q: How will you reform the controversial pro-North Korea doctrine and hegemony in the party?

Shim: There is controversy over the politically biased pro-North Korea sentiment in the party. Those are by-products of our efforts to foster ties with the North Korean government or achieve peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula. I will make use of the controversy in the process of reestablishing a new progressive party line.

Q: You pledged to launch a “popular progressive party” after taking over as chairwoman. What are your specific plans?

Shim: We lacked experience in communicating with the public under the frame of institutionalized politics. Though we called ourselves a “working class party” when we first launched, we failed to receive support from the middle class in the process of accomplishing its objectives. We will change our direction and move toward a working class party.

Q: What policy changes will be introduced to re-establish the party as a popular progressive entity?

Shim: We’ll draw up specific polices on problems working-class people will face under the Lee Myung-bak administration. To stand against the Lee administration, the party will concentrate on the following four policy areas – the household economy for low-income earners, the market economy, human rights and peace.

Q: What is the party’s goal in the April general elections?

Shim: Figures are meaningless. The key is how successful the party will be in reform and whether it can change sufficiently to meet its potential as a highly regarded progressive party. We will become the central opposition party through decisive reform and fair policy competition.

Q: Proportional representatives are playing a central role in your party. How will you select proportional representatives in the April general elections?

Shim: We’ll make a bold move and unbolt the door of the closed proportional representation system. First, we will select people to communicate with the people on the front-lines. At least half of the top ten proportional representative candidates will be figures outside the party. Second, we will request outstanding civil organizations to recommend candidates. We will decide on candidates by forming a nomination committee, to mainly consist of people who have earned strong public trust for their work with the progressive bloc rather than party members.

leon@donga.com