Park loyalists showing signs of rift

By Kim Hyo-jin

Saenuri Party lawmakers aligned with President Park Geun-hye are showing signs of division amid Park’s falling popularity following the ruling party’s defeat in the April 13 general election.

With the party struggling to form a new leadership, Park loyalists have clashed over who should run for the position of floor leader, which is expected to be determined on May 3.

While Rep. Choi Kyung-hwan, the de-facto leader of the pro-Park faction, discouraged its members from participating in the race, Rep. Yoo Ki-june, a Park loyalist, rejected this demand, saying that he will compete.

Park loyalists have also indicated different preferences toward floor leader candidates.

This suggests that Park may lose her grip on the party for the remainder of her term, which is scheduled to end in early 2018, observers said.

The floor leader will act as the party’s head until a new leader is elected at a party convention, which may take place in June or July.

Reps. Yoo and Hong Moon-jong, who are affiliated with the President, and lawmakers Na Kyung-won and Chung Jin-suk expressed their intention to compete for the position.

Rep. Choi, however, urged the pro-Park figures to withdraw their bids, expressing concern about a possible backlash from party members.

“Lawmakers classified as pro-Park had better not seek a bid considering the public sentiment reflected in the results of the election,” Choi told reporters, Thusday. “It will be a huge burden for the President if we fight for power in the first in-house election after the election defeat.”

Citing Yoo’s refusal to do so unlike Hong, Choi stressed that the pro-Park faction will not support Yoo.

“Yoo is free to pursue the leadership but I will keep persuading him until he withdraws,” Choi said.

Later in the day, Yoo reiterated his intention to join the race.

“I understand Choi but it is meaningless to talk about the factions now. It’s time to think how to reform the party and reflect on its past,” Yoo said. “We need a figure equipped with negotiation power against the expanded opposition bloc.”

He indicated that he may sever relationships with other pro-Park lawmakers, commenting “If I run for the floor leadership, I will announce my departure from the faction first.”

The pro-Park lawmakers are divided over whom they should support as floor leader. Reps. Na and Chung are the favorite candidates at the moment.

“Na is popular among those who put a priority on renewing the party’s image while Chung is drawing support from those who credit his experience of working as a bridge between Cheong Wa Dae and the Assembly as a presidential secretary of state affairs,” a pro-Park lawmaker said.

“A series of internal divisions show that pro-Park loyalists are losing their influence in steering the party after the crushing defeat in the election,” said Choi Chang-ryol, a professor at Yongin University.

“Worse, the President doesn’t seem to change her governing style, blamed as a key reason for the election defeat. With her popularity showing no signs of rebounding, her grip on the party will weaken massively and it will end up dissolving the pro-Park faction.”