Saenuri Party chairman, floor leader in discord

By Kim Hyo-jin

The Saenuri Party’s chairman and floor leader remain poles apart over how to deal with the opposition parties and a scandal-ridden aide to President Park Geun-hye, raising concerns about the resurgence of a possible factional feud inside the ruling party.

While Chairman Rep. Lee Jung-hyun blamed the opposition for the current legislative deadlock during a party meeting, Thursday, floor leader Chung Jin-suk disagreed, saying the opposition parties should be viewed as “partners.”

“The National Assembly is seeing no progress in dealing with various current issues as the opposition are dragging us down,” Lee said in an opening speech. “I hope they will cooperate at least on tasks related to improving the people’s livelihoods.”

In a following speech, Chung chided Lee, saying, “Nothing will work if you view the opposition as a problem. As floor leader, I ask you all to step up sincerely communicating with the opposition parties and the public.”

Analysts say this episode showed how deep the ongoing tension between Lee and Chung is and how factional strife can hit the Saenuri Party anytime.

Lee, a former presidential secretary and close confidant to President Park, won the chairmanship race held at the party’s national convention on Aug. 9, vowing to eradicate an intra-party factional division between Park loyalists and those who are not affiliated with her.

Lee appeared to be working smoothly with Chung, a non-Park follower who had served as floor leader since May.

But disunity was detected between them over how to respond to the scandal involving senior presidential secretary for civil affairs Woo Byung-woo.

Chung, along with fellow lawmakers who do not follow the President, called on Woo to step down as he is being investigated by the prosecution.

“It’s time for Woo to resign,” Chung argued in a recent Facebook post. “A majority of Saenuri Party lawmakers are on the same page.”

Party officials said Chung’s remarks reflected increasing intra-party discontent with Lee’s silence on the scandal-ridden presidential secretary.

Lee has said nothing as Cheong Wa Dae has sent a strong message that it will keep Woo despite mounting calls to sack him from the opposition.

Woo is facing investigation due to allegations that he exerted influence in helping his son get special treatment in his mandatory military service, while his family members are alleged to have used their company's public funds for living expenses.

Agreeing with Chung, a Saenuri Party lawmaker who wished to remain anonymous said, “It is so wrong that the leader of the governing party cannot give his opinion on this hot-button political issue.”