Opposition parties prioritize national security
Rep. Kim Chong-in, right, the interim leader of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea, meets with Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Lee Sun-jin, center, and JCS Vice Chairman Um Hyun-seong, left, during a visit to the JCS headquarters in Yongsan, Seoul, Wednesday. / Yonhap
Frequent visits to military bases are to revamp image
By Kim Hyo-jin
The leaders of the opposition parties are increasing visits to military bases and meetings with security officials in an apparent bid to show their commitment to national security.
This is also viewed as part of their efforts to expand their support among conservative voters ahead of the 2017 presidential election.
Rep. Kim Chong-in, the interim leader of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK), visited the headquarters of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), Wednesday _ the first visit to the JCS by an opposition leader.
Meanwhile, Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, co-chairman of the second-largest opposition People’s Party, will visit residences of military officers in Seoul and the surrounding areas today, said party officials.
These visits reflect the parties’ efforts to appeal to conservative voters, according to political watchers.
With the race for the 2017 presidential election looming, their efforts to poach supporters from across the political spectrum will be stepped up and attempts to change their image will be further strengthened, they said.
Kim met with JCS Chairman Gen. Lee Sun-jin and discussed the current security environment on the Korean Peninsula during the 35-minute visit.
“I checked on our actual security situation during a series of visits to military organizations, considering that June is the month of remembrance to honor those who died for the country and their spirit,” Kim told reporters after the meeting.
Kim has put much effort toward highlighting the image of the party as competent in security matters since the April 13 general election.
Last week, Kim met with soldiers during his visit to the 2nd Division of the Marine Corps in Gimpo, near the border with North Korea, amid heightened inter-Korean tensions. Also, he met with persons of national merit on his visit to the Central Veterans Hospital in Seoul and urged the government to improve medical services provided to them.
Kim will continue visiting military-related organizations and seeking ways to improve their conditions throughout June, a party official said.
Ahn, the leader of the People’s Party, is also taking similar steps.
He will visit military posts, seeking to overhaul the level of welfare for soldiers, according to the party.
“There was internal sentiment that we need to work on improving soldiers’ living conditions to boost their morale, which was negatively impacted by the current corruption scandals between the military and the defense industry,” a party official said.
The visit was arranged to differentiate its approach to security issues from that of the main opposition party, he added.
Shin Yul, a professor of Myongji University, said the opposition parties’ stances are in sync with the changing political orientation of the public.
“Overall society is now becoming more conservative,” he said, contending that this shift often occurs when the economy is sluggish. “The opposition parties appear to have read the changing trends and are responding in kind.”
He added: “they are obviously wooing the center-right voters, which is critical to expanding their base of support.”