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Chung's election move raises fears of opposition split
By Jun Ji-hye
Chung Dong-young
By Jun Ji-hye
Opposition heavyweight and former presidential candidate Chung Dong-young said Monday he would run in the April 29 by-elections, causing concern in the opposition bloc about the possible split of liberal voters.
Chung, a former senior adviser of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), is running under the banner of “Union of the People” in Seoul’s Gwanak-B constituency.
Since he defected from the NPAD in December, Chung has been preparing 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 against the conservative government.
“A victory for Chung and the Union of the People will judge the Park Geun-hye regime,” Chung told a news conference. “It will also wake up both the ruling and opposition parties by bringing about an upheaval in political circles.
“I want to create a place that weak and poor people can rely on,” he added.
Chung’s declaration came a day after the Union of the People held a meeting for its supporters.
His bid has made the contest of Gwanak-B district a three-way race between the ruling Saenuri Party’s Oh Shin-hwan, the NPAD’s Jung Tae-ho and Chung. The Justice Party’s Lee Dong-young, Labor Party’s Na Kyung-chae and independent Lee Sang-kyu are also running as minor opposition candidates.
The NPAD immediately expressed concern over the possible division of opposition voters.
NPAD Chairman Rep. Moon Jae-in said, “It is doubtful whether splitting the opposition bloc is what the people want. It is also doubtful about for whom and for what Chung’s decision was made.”
Moon played down the possibility that the opposition candidates could form an alliance.
“There will be no such discussion,” he said. “I believe voters in the district will make a wise decision.”
Rep. Joo Seung-yong, a NPAD Supreme Council member, echoed these thoughts, saying, “Chung’s bid will let the ruling party win the race by default.”
The governing camp meanwhile welcomed Chung’s decision.
Its secretary general, Rep. Lee Koon-hyon, said, “More opposition candidates make the situation more favorable for the ruling party.”
Gwanak-B is not the only district where a split in liberal voters is expected.
Former justice minister Chun Jung-bae, a political heavyweight during the late Roh Moo-hyun administration, will run as an independent candidate for Seogu-B in Gwangju, the liberal party’s traditional home turf.
This will pose a direct challenge to the NPAD’s Cho Young-teck.
Four parliamentary seats are up for grabs in the by-elections.
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