Faction-based politics

Former Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka bolted from the Liberal Democratic Party after his arrest for a bribery scandal involving Lockheed Martin in 1976, but his faction continued to enjoy massive power. The faction was so influential that the government of his successor Masayoshi Ohira, which was inaugurated in 1979, was even called a “shadow cabinet.” Massive funds fueled the prosperity of his faction. Faction-focused politics waned in Japan from the late 1980s, but factions remain in various forms. Critics say faction-based politics in Japan is the root of politico-business collusion, but others blame fierce competition between factions within the Liberal Democratic Party as the driving force that allowed it a prolonged grip on power.

In Korea, President Kim Young-sam in 1997 appointed former Seoul Mayor Goh Kun, who hailed from the Jeolla provinces, as his administration’s last prime minister to manage the presidential election. In private gatherings, Kim would frequently mention his political relationship with the late Goh Hyeong-gon, Goh’s father who served as president of Chonbuk National University. The senior Goh, who entered politics as a lawmaker of the opposition Democratic Political Party in 1963, belonged to the older faction of the former Democratic Party, to which Kim belonged. The late President Kim Dae-jung, who was Kim Young-sam’s political rival, was from the new faction of the Democratic Party. The Sangdo-dong faction of Kim Young-sam and Donggyo-dong faction of Kim Dae-jung would be the longest surviving factions through the course of Korea`s democratic movement.

The landscape of power in the ruling Grand National Party made a 180-degree turn at the July 4 national convention. The pro-Park Geun-hye faction emerged as the leader while the pro-Lee Myung-bak faction suffered a defeat and came close to its demise. The pro-Park group’s ability to keep order under the dominance of the pro-Lee group stems in large part from Park’s bandwagon. In the Gyeongsang provinces, many politicians ran in elections only by banking on photos they took with former party chairwoman Park despite lacking organizational capacity or funds. A pro-Park lawmaker confidently said, “Park Geun-hye marketing will continue for more than 10 years in the Gyeongsang region.”

Controversy flared within the ruling party after new chairman Hong Joon-pyo declared the dismantlement of factions on the occasion of his election. His predecessor Chung Mong-joon blasted the move, saying, “This isn`t a matter that can be resolved through shouting or force.” The idea behind removing factions sounds promising, but many doubt its practical feasibility. It is uncertain if other factions will show a notable presence in the ruling party, which seems to have become dominated by Park. A veteran politician compared the separation and regrouping of politicians into factions to harrowing of farmland. Factions might be inevitable in party politics.

Editorial Writer Jeong Yeon-wook (jyw11@donga.com)