Moon eager to mend rift
Rep. Moon Jae-in, left, chairman of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), looks pensive during the party’s Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Monday. At right is party floor leader Rep. Lee Jong-kul. / Yonhap
By Do Je-hae
The main opposition leader Moon Jae-in's futile attempts to mend an internal party feud are fueling doubts about his leadership that has already been undermined by devastating by-election defeats last month.
Two senior members of the main opposition were visibly absent at a Supreme Council meeting Monday.
The regular meeting of the New Politics Alliance for Democracy’s (NPAD) decision-making group took place without Reps. Joo Seung-yong and Jung Cheong-rae.
Joo stormed out of a council meeting last week after expressing his "severe humiliation" from Jung's verbal attacks.
Moon apologized for the quarrel between the two lawmakers.
"We showed a shameful side of the party last week," Moon said during the meeting, Monday. "If we are unable to impart a message of trust and hope to the people, how can we criticize the government and the ruling party?"
The feud between Joo and Jung was sparked by Joo's call for Moon to resign and take responsibility for the April 29 by-election defeats.
Joo said that he would abandon his council membership.
Moon then asked Joo to return to the Supreme Council.
"Rep. Joo should urgently resume his duties as a Supreme Council member," Moon said. "He serves a crucial role in the council as a representative of the Honam region. His absence has left a huge void."
Joo is staying in Yeosu, South Jeolla Province, the district he represents at the National Assembly.
He has made it clear that he will not return unless Jung apologizes for his outburst. Joo also wants Moon to resign or take measures to undo his factional policies.
"I cannot return to the council unless present circumstances change," Joo said in a Munhwa Ilbo interview, Monday.
Moon, a leader in the party's group that maintains close ties to the former Roh Moo-hyun administration, has been slammed for an inability to bring the party together.
Some NPAD lawmakers have criticized the pro-Roh group for factional conflicts.
"Jung, who started the quarrel, is a key figure in the pro-Roh faction," Park Joo-sun said in an SBS radio interview Monday. "The entire party leadership should resign en masse."
Moon has said that he will work harder to eradicate the factional rift within the party. "I will do my utmost until people stop describing me as a leader of the pro-Roh group," Moon said.
Moon has failed to gain support from the elder members of the opposition camp.
Park Jie-won, a former floor leader of the party, has called on Moon to resign.
The former culture minister is one of the leaders of a band of NPAD lawmakers with ties to former President Kim Dae-jung.
"After the election, Moon cannot go on as if nothing happened," Park said. "He must take responsibility."
Former party leaders such as Kim Han-kil have also called on Moon to step down.
Moon has been trying to gather leaders of the different factions for a meeting, but media reports said those who have been contacted have not been responsive.