Presidential advisor`s controversial remarks on next presidential candidate

Yoon Sang-hyun, a special advisor to President Park Geun-hye for political affairs, has sparked speculations by saying that some of Pro-Park lawmakers who would be elected lawmakers for the fourth term in next year`s parliamentary elections would run in the next presidential election. A key member of the pro-Park faction in the ruling Saenuri Party, Yoon said, "Although the Saenuri Party`s approval rate is over 40 percent, that of Kim Moo-sung (the current Saenuri chairman and frontrunner) remains in the 20 percent range. We have pro-Park presidential candidates from both the Gyeongsang and Chungcheong provinces." Although he did not specify who they were, the political circles speculate that they are the incumbent finance minister Choi Kyung-hwan from North Gyeongsang Province and Chung Woo-taik, chairman of the National Assembly`s political affairs committee, from North Chungcheong Province. Both would become fourth-term lawmakers if they get elected in next year`s parliamentary elections.

Yoon, a second-term lawmaker, can express his opinion regarding the next presidential race as much as he wants. Considering his position as a special political advisor to President Park, however, his remarks will be interpreted as the president`s intention rather than his own. Under the current situation, in which Park does not readily and openly support Kim, Yoon`s remarks can be taken as an intention to seek a pro-Park presidential runner.

President Park is likely to envision her own picture for the party`s next presidential election. If Kim remains the party`s frontrunner after next year`s parliamentary elections, her political influence will likely wane toward the end of her term in office. Therefore, she might be thinking that it is necessary to nurture pro-Park presidential runners. For the Saenuri Party, a greater pool of presidential hopefuls would also give the electorate greater choices and can expect to have a higher chance of staying in power.

Just as the president stressed, however, it is time for the ruling party to focus on labor reform and economic revival. At such a juncture, it is wrong for a presidential advisor to make controversial remarks that could fan factional friction within the ruling party. Yoon needs to provide clear explanations as to whether his remarks were a trial balloon for his boss`s intention or for his personal political purpose.

If the public views the presidential office and the pro-Park faction playing politics to protect their own political interest, Yoon is heavily responsible. A normal political party would nominate its presidential candidate through an open and democratic competition among candidates supported by many party members and the electorate. If Yoon wants to say all he wants, he should do so after quitting his job as a presidential advisor.