Crooked primary for party chairman race

Rep. Kim Han-gil, who ran for chairman of the main opposition Democratic United Party, was ahead of fellow competitor Lee Hae-chan 9-4 in 13 primaries in the provinces, which was held from May 20, including Ulsan and North Jeolla Province. Kim defeated Lee even in the latter’s birthplace of North Chungcheong Province. The interpretation that party members are critical of the “collusion between Lee Hae-chan and Park Jie-won” was convincing. The election result was upended by mobile votes, however. Due to support via mobile voting from organizations loyal to the late former President Roh Moo-hyun, Lee beat Kim in the final count by half a percentage point. Kim objected to the result, saying, “The mobile primaries were held to plug the gap between public and party opinions and have distorted the people’s opinions.”

Former Democratic United Party lawmaker Chung Bong-joo, who has more than 160,000 members in his fan club, remained neutral in the primaries. But Lee’s camp exploited the fan club, saying, “Many members of Chung’s fan club support Lee.” Experts say the party’s primaries showed the imbalance between the older and younger generations in reflecting the people’s opinions due to mobile voting. The opinions of the former were excessively represented while those of the latter were represented less.

To make Lee, the alleged leader of pro-Roh loyalists, elected chairman of the main opposition party, organizations supporting the former president are known to have participated in mobile voting in an organized manner. The original purpose of mobile voting, which is to actively reflect the people’s opinions, has significantly faded. The open primary system urged by those who are not part of the faction loyal to the ruling Saenuri Party’s leading presidential candidate Park Geun-hye, which voters can vote on the ballot of any party, is feared to produce similar harmful effects on the organized mobilization of voters.

Lee said his response to the ruling camp’s criticism has turned the tables because he showed the genuine image of an opposition party with the response. On the ruling party’s claim that opposition figures are pro-North Korea, Lee fired back by calling Saenuri`s offensive "neo-McCarthyism." Yet everybody agrees with the ruling party. Chung Dae-chul, senior adviser to the main opposition party, said, “The Democratic United Party has lost balance in the pro-North Korea controversy. The party should have drawn a clear line against pro-North activities and taken a stance on North Korea`s human rights situation.” The main opposition party blasted certain media outlets for "dividing the people with ideological offensives." Chung, however, blamed the main opposition party and Lee for dividing the people into the 1-percent and 99-percent groups.

Lee also said, “(The ruling party) is even seeking to judge the qualifications of Lee Hae-chan, who served as prime minster of the Republic of Korea. This is no different from the idea of Hitler.” But the ruling party never said it would judge Lee’s qualifications. In addition, mass murderers and war criminals Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il are the ones who resemble Hitler. The typical propaganda Lee has used as a politician has been put on record.

Lee should be prudent in making comments in that he is leading the main opposition party. Not all of the people and media outlets agree with and support him regardless of the kind of politics and world he is pursuing. Showing a much harsher reaction to a harsh opponent shows lack of discretion.