Jun Ji-hye, a reporter at the finance desk of The Korea Times, focuses primarily on economic policy and government agencies, mainly covering the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Ministry of Budget and Planning, the National Tax Service and the Korea Customs Service. She previously covered financial authorities, including the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service, and earlier worked on the political, city and business desks, reporting on a wide range of issues.
NPAD struggles in April by-elections
Rep. Moon Jae-in, chairman of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy, speaks at a meeting with families of the victims of the 1948 Jeju Uprising on Jeju Island, Friday. / Yonhap
By Jun Ji-hye
By Jun Ji-hye
The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) is struggling in the run up to the April 29 by-elections apparently due to formidable candidates running against them that could split liberal voters.
According to the latest opinion poll, NPAD candidates are trailing independent candidates or those from the ruling Saenuri Party in districts that traditionally favor the party.
The survey conducted by the JoongAng Ilbo on Tuesday and Wednesday showed that the Saenuri Party’s Oh Shin-hwan was the most preferred candidate with support of 34.3 percent in Seoul's Gwanak-B constituency, followed by the NPAD's Jung Tae-ho with 15.9 percent.
The Union of the People’s Chung Dong-young garnered 13.3 percent. Chung, a former senior adviser and presidential candidate for the NPAD, left the party in December to launch the Union of the People.
In the Seogu-B district of Gwangju, independent Chun Jung-bae ranked first with 28.7 percent, beating the NPAD’s Cho Young-teck with 22.8 percent.
Former justice minister Chun was a political heavyweight during the late Roh Moo-hyun administration.
The results are disappointing for the largest opposition party as both regions have been regarded as its strongholds.
It was initially expected that the April elections would be favorable for the NPAD as three out of four districts where the polls will take place were represented by the now-dissolved Unified Progressive Party, meaning that voters there tended to support progressive politics.
However, several liberal candidates declaring their bids in each region have split the liberal votes.
Adding to the difficulties for the NPAD is the fact that some of its big shots are seemingly reluctant to help its candidates.
NPAD Chairman Rep. Moon Jae-in has appealed for support from former Chairman Rep. Kim Han-gil and three-term lawmaker Rep. Park Jie-won. But they turned down the request citing their health or busy schedule.
For his part, Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, another former chairman of the party, stood by Moon, saying, “I am willing to help if a request is made.”
Party insiders as well as political watchers say Moon’s leadership will be put to the test in the by-elections, given that it is the first important event since he was made chairman of the party in February.
“If Moon fails to embrace all factions of the party, the split will not disappear,” said an insider requesting anonymity.
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