Ruling Camp Seeks 2-Track Sejong Policy
By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
Is it another slip of the tongue by Prime Minister Chung Un-chan or an indication showing a divide among senior policymakers over the government's revised Sejong City plan?
Chung said during an interpellation session at the National Assembly, Tuesday, that he would consider reviving the original plan to build an administrative complex on Sejong City if the controversial alternative project to turn it into a business hub fails to get parliamentary approval by April.
The remark came right after President Lee Myung-bak, during a visit to Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province on the same day, expressed concern over the political turmoil surrounding the revision, saying, "We should not waste time fighting each other over domestic issues in the face of stiff global competition."
Cheong Wa Dae officials said the governing camp remains firm in its bid to secure an early ratification of the alternative project, but some sources say it is inevitable for the camp to change its strategy due to negative public sentiment in the Chungcheong region toward the revised Sejong plan.
"Most of all, the issue poses a great challenge to the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) on its road to tackling the June 2 local elections, which are viewed as a confidence vote for the Lee administration," a GNP source said.
The move by opposition parties to form a united front to block an early passage of the Sejong bill is also vexing for President Lee.
The main opposition Democratic Party (DP) and three other minor parties agreed Monday to submit a motion to oust the prime minister, while boycotting any dialogue with the governing party over the Sejong plan.
They have called on Lee to drop the alternative project and implement the original administrative town project.
"We will submit the bill to change the Sejong project as early as possible," Chung said during the interpellation session.
Answering a question from a lawmaker whether he would consider reviving the original plan if the bill was not approved by the National Assembly by April, Chung said, "Yes, I will do so."
Given the political sensitivity of the issue with the elections approaching, the ruling camp may adopt a two-track strategy - broadening public support for the revised plan while securing an exit in case its campaign backfires.
Early this week, GNP lawmakers Choung Byoung-gug and Shim Jae-chul proposed a referendum on the disputed revision to leave its destiny in the hands of the public, a move strongly criticized by opposition parties as a political tactic.
"Their proposal for a referendum is unrealistic. Rather, we believe it is aimed to seek broader support for the revised Sejong project, turning a blind eye to public anger in the Chungcheong provinces," said DP spokesman Woo Sang-ho.
The growing factional feud inside the governing party is also a big obstacle for Lee.
Former GNP Chairwoman Rep. Park Geun-hye has renewed her objections to the change, calling Prime Minister Chung Lee's puppet.
Some lawmakers affiliated with Park showed signs of sympathy with the opposition move to impeach Chung.