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| Moon Jae-in, second from left, chairman of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), and other party members call on former President Lee Myung-bak to attend the National Assembly hearings over his failed energy diplomacy during a rally at the Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Tuesday. The banner in Moon's hands reads: "Lee should be accountable for wasting 6 billion won of taxpayers' money." / Yonhap |
By Jun Ji-hye
The opposition is concerned in the lead-up to the April 29 by-elections over the possible loss of Gwanak-B district.
Liberal candidates have beaten conservatives in the constituency since the first ever democratic general elections in 1988.
Their continuous success comes from the fact that a considerable number of citizens living there are from the Honam region, which encompasses Gwangju and South and North Jeolla Provinces, a significant representative force with liberal parties.
The district is also packed with "gosiwon," a low-cost rental room that does not require a deposit, in which young people live to prepare for state examinations. These young voters have tended to support liberal candidates.
However, a change in voting patterns looks likely as the ruling Saenuri Party's Oh Shin-hwan has taken the lead in recent opinion polls against the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy's Jung Tae-ho and the Union of the People's Chung Dong-young.
The latest survey announced by a local pollster Human Research on Monday showed that Oh garnered support of 43.8 percent, followed by Chung's 23.5 percent and Jung's 17.8 percent.
The poll conducted by the JoongAng Ilbo last week showed a similar result as Oh appeared to be the most popular candidate with support of 34.3 percent, followed by Jung with 15.9 percent and Chung with 13.3 percent.
Political observers attributed the situation to Chung and Jung declaring their bids at the same time in one region, resulting in a split in liberal votes.
Chung, a former presidential candidate and former senior adviser for the NPAD, defected from the largest opposition party in December to launch the Union of the People, which will be comprised of civic activists and scholars who claim the NPAD has failed to represent progressive-minded people.
When he declared his bid on March 30, NPAD Chairman Rep. Moon Jae-in slammed the move, saying, "It is doubtful whether splitting the opposition bloc is what the people want. It is also doubtful for whom and for what Chung made such a decision."
For his part, Chung said he is seeking to form an alliance with other minor opposition candidates from the Justice Party and Labor Party. "This election should judge the Park Geun-hye government. We will complete the alliance by Friday, the deadline to register as candidates," he told reporters.
Jung expressed hope for more voters choosing the leading opposition party, saying, "Voters will cast their votes for a reliable opposition candidate."
In the meantime, Oh is looking for victory, saying, "The Gwanak region has not been developed for 27 years while the liberal parties dominated it."
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye
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