A crack in the Nakdong River belt

South Chungcheong Province Gov. Ahn Hee-jung was a key person of late former President Roh Moo-hyun. Long time before he became a public official, he once mentioned the “Nakdong River line” in an interview with an internet media in December 2006. He said, “A dragon emerges from the Nakdong River line, not the Han River line. Many are ready for flying with wings from the shores of history, but they can’t fly because there is no wind.” I couldn’t understand him back then. In retrospect, I think he meant the emergence of Moon Jae-in, leader of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea who ran for the 19th presidential election, or the pro-Roh group based in Busan and South Gyeongsang Province.

During his presidential term, President Roh often said, “When I retire, I’ll return to the Bongha Village in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province.” When Moon Seung-geun visited him in fall 2008 after his retirement, Roh said, "Do you know why I’m here? I thought I might be a little help in assisting the Open Uri Party to become a national political party." He envisioned a new political wave in Busan and South Gyeongsang Province. Eventually, what Gov. Ahn said on the “Nakdong River line” would be probably former President Roh’s idea.

The “Nakdong River belt” refers to a region where the Minjoo Party of Korea has a high approval rating among regions near the downstream of the Nakdong River in Busan and South Gyeongsang Province. It overlaps with constituencies as follows: Sasang, Saha A, Saha B, Bukgangseo A, Bukgangseo B in Busan and Gimhae A, Gimhae B, and Yangsan in South Gyeongsang Province. In the 19th presidential election, the Democratic United Party won in only three out of 34 constituencies in Busan and South Gyeongsang Province, and they are all on the Nakdong River belt. The party narrowly lost in other five constituencies where it garnered over 40 percent of votes.

Among the party’s three elected lawmakers, Rep. Cho Gyeong-tae (Saha B of Busan) changed his party to the ruling Saenuri Party recently. Rep. Moon Jae-in (Sasang of Busan) decided not to run for the upcoming general elections. Rep. Min Hong-cheol (Gimhae A of South Gyeongsang Province) is not clear about his position. The deviation of the three lawmakers, who were once called the “original pro-Roh” or “little Roh Moo-hyun,” represents a crack in the pro-Roh group based in Busan and South Gyeongsang Province. The other wing that supported the Minjoo Party of Korea along with the group that has a stronghold in Jeolla Province has a problem now. It remains to be seen whether the Minjoo Party and party leader Moon can continue to fly.

이진녕 jinnyong@donga.com