S.Korean ruling party facing tough time

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, September 22, 2003

S.Korean ruling party facing tough time

South Korean ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) Chairman Chyung Dai-chul resigned Sunday, taking responsibility for the party split that saw 37 of its legislators leave to form a new party.

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South Korean ruling Millennium Democratic Party (MDP) Chairman Chyung Dai-chul resigned Sunday, taking responsibility for the party split that saw 37 of its legislators leave to form a new party.

The Millennium Democratic Party (MDP), founded by South Korean former President Kim Dae-jung in 2000, now is facing the toughest time for the split inflicted heavy losses on its root.

Thirty-seven representatives of the MDP quit the party on Saturday and registered in the National Assembly as a "negotiating group" along with other 5 lawmakers from the opposition Grand National Party (GNP). According to rules, the "negotiating group " has the rights to participate in negotiations in the National Assembly.

The new political group, temporarily named "New Party for National Participatory Union", changed the political landscape of the Asian country, although it will need more time for it to officially launch a new political party.

With the division of the MDP, four political powers will control the country's 272-seat parliament: the GNP (149), the MDP (64), the new group (42) and United Liberation Democrats (10). Independent lawmakers hold the rest of seats.

Local observers predicted four-party system will come again in South Korea. The first four-party system was formed in 1988 after the 13th presidential election, in which Roh Tae-woo won the victory.

The re-combination happened seven months ahead of the 17th parliament general election, which is slated for April 15, 2004. The new political group desperately hoped to beat the GNP in the election by gaining majority in the parliament.

Those reform-minded lawmakers dissatisfied with current political system and situation and were frustrated with the failure of the MDP in regional election and parliamentary by-election last year.

Although the MDP's candidate Roh Moo-hyun defeated other candidates in last year's presidential election and assumed his post earlier this year, the ruling camp had been suffered from wrangle between conservative and progressive factions.

After long time brawl and clash with the "old guard" and "neutral force" in the MDP, the reformists finally left the party to form a new political power strongly supporting Roh Moo-hyun.

After the victory of the presidential election, the MDP split over several government policies, such as sending non-combat troops to Iraq at the request of Washington.

Several high ranking officials of the party also had relations with corruption lawsuits, which shadowed the MDP's fame among its supporters.

Roh first maintained silence over the conflict in the ruling camp, but few days ago, the president hinted his support of the defection of his loyalists, saying "I want the current political structure to change."

Some local media also reported that Roh will follow his predecessor Kim Dae-jung's footprint to quit the MDP soon, thus to "focus all energy on dealing with state affairs and maintain neutral in domestic political affairs."

Kim Dae-jung announced his pull-out in May 2002, also citing the above reasons.

But if Roh really quit the MDP, the country must face again the reality: no ruling party.

Facing unclear future, the MDP planned to convene national convention in this November to outline new measures to solidify the party.

"But its difficult to make a breakthrough because the MDP's foundation was heavily hurt by the split," said analysts.

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