Liberals Search for Identity in Post-DJ Era
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
The era of heroes has ended as former President Kim Dae-jung passed away.
National Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o made the remark after Kim's state funeral held on Sunday.
On the liberal Democratic Party (DP)'s front, the demise of one charismatic leader-dominated days came at a price.
The disappearance of the two leaders - Kim and late former President Roh Moo-hyun - this year alone led liberals to face unprecedented lack of leadership materials in the camp.
Roh committed suicide in May amid investigation of a bribery scandal involving him and his family.
Kim and Roh, the only two liberal leaders in Korean politics who ran successfully in the presidential elections in 1997 and 2002, respectively, were much more than two former heads of state to liberals.
Their signature policy legacies, especially the Sunshine Policy of engaging North Korea and their redistribution-oriented economic vision, have formed the backbone of the DP's vision.
DP leaders relied on their insights and advice on major agendas. Their loss is deeply felt.
Post-DJ Era
DP Chairman Chung Sye-kyun described the liberal party members without Kim and Roh as ``orphans'' who lost their parents.
``I have struggled to deal with the emotions that I have now. I feel like that the sky sank and the earth that I stand on disappeared all of a sudden,'' said Chung, depicting his feelings after Kim's death.
Political analysts say the DP leader's lamentation is not an exaggeration nor a political rhetoric, but a reflection of his true feeling concerning the fate of his party in the forthcoming era.
Political observers raised two burning questions regarding the absence of the two liberal leaders: What characteristics will be featured in the forthcoming era and who will succeed Kim and Roh in the liberal camp?
Prof. Yun Seong-yi of Kyung Hee University in Seoul observed that Korea's loss of the two liberal leaders signaled that party politics is heading toward a policy-centered system and away from dominant leader's top-down decision-making.
``The policy-based party system will not be set in place in the near future mainly because Korean party politics has been working in the one charismatic leader-oriented party structure for a long time. It seems to be clear, though, the policy-based party system, not a leader-oriented one, is the way that it should go for,'' Yun told The Korea Times.
Park Sung-min, director of political consultancy Min, stated in a column that Kim's death meant the end of an era for democracy in Korea.
``Korea has experienced four state funerals every 30 years so far, and each funeral came with the end of signature eras those leaders had lived in. King Gojong, the last emperor of the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), was buried after the state funeral in 1919 and his death indicated the demise of the Joseon era,'' Park said.
The political strategist continued, ``The state funeral for independence fighter Kim Gu, who was assassinated by a conservative activist in 1949, hinted at the end of the independence movement in Korea.
``Former President Park Chung-hee was assassinated in 1979 with an indication that dictatorship is over.''
Split of Liberals?
Prior to Kim's death, approximately 1,600 pro-Roh figures announced to create a party by the year's end.
In an effort to justify the creation of a new party, the Roh supporters accused the DP, saying it has failed to meet the rising demands from the people.
Among those joining the initiative are former Presidential Chief of Staff Lee Byung-wan and former Presidential Spokesman Chun Ho-seon.
Some prominent pro-Roh figures, such as former Prime Minister Han Myung-sook, however, did not participate in the campaign for a new liberal party.
Those who joined the initiative claimed that people have seen the consequences of poor political leadership since conservative President Lee Myung-bak took office in February last year and that people want someone like themselves to correct the bad practices.
Closely watching their move, leaders and members of the DP expressed worries because of the possible division of the liberal camp.
Prof. Yun said the chances of pro-Roh figures going ahead with creating a party are very low.
``This is because it's going to be a lose-lose situation for both the DP and Roh's aides when and if Roh supporters flock together under the banner of a pro-Roh party,'' Yun told The Korea Times.
The political scientist noted that two major characteristics of the current political system make it difficult for the liberal camp to split.
``The rule of the current presidential system is that the winner takes all. And one lawmaker is chosen in one electoral district. Due to these rules, liberals will be discouraged to be divided because they will have fewer chances of winning both the presidential and National Assembly elections if they are split,'' the professor observed.
Yun forecasts that despite the differences, the pro-Roh group and followers of the current DP's leadership will try to find ways of ``living together'' in the same party, just like supporters of President Lee Myung-bak and followers of Park Geun-hye, a former Grand National Party (GNP) Chairwoman, are competing in the ruling party.
Next Leader
Political observers say the absence of dominant leaders would facilitate an intense power struggle among aspiring leaders in the liberal camp.
DP Chairman Chung's two-year term ends in July next year.
Analysts say his leadership base will be weakened when the party achieves poor election records in the Oct. 28 by-elections and that therefore October will be a turning point in the DP's leadership competition.
Inside and outside the DP, signs of a power struggle are already starting to show.
Independent lawmaker Chung Dong-young, who returned to the National Assembly through the April 29 by-election in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province, strengthened his political position after Kim's funeral.
Chung emphasized his political career as a presidential candidate on the DP ticket in the 2007 presidential election, saying he represented the liberal camp, following the two former Presidents Kim and Roh, in the race.
Earlier, the former unification minister, who was eliminated in the DP's selections of candidates to run in the April by-elections, tried to rejoin the DP after winning the race, but several DP lawmakers, including Chairman Chung, blocked his attempt.
Chung didn't push his party membership hard at the time for fear of possible backlash from the DP, but political analysts say Chug will try again even harder this time.
They say former DP Chairman Sohn Hak-kyu will want to join the leadership race. Sohn was reportedly interested in running in the October by-election in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, on the DP's ticket.
The former Gyeonggi governor lost the National Assembly election last year in Jongno, Seoul, which is called Korea's No. 1 political avenue.
Several prominent politicians, including former Minister of Health and Welfare Kim Geun-tae and a few pro-Roh figures, are also interested in joining the leadership race.