Ruling party's presidential primary losing attention; main opposition enjoys popularity
Presidential contenders of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) attend a live interview event held by the party where they answered questions from a panel of experts regarding their policy promises, at CJB Convention Center, Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, Sunday. From left are former Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, Rep. Lee Kwang-jae, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, former DPK Chairman Lee Nak-yon, Rep. Park Yong-jin, South Chungcheong Province Governor Yang Seung-jo, Gangwon Province Governor Choi Moon-soon, and Rep. Kim Du-kwan. Yonhap
By Jung Da-min
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) primary to select its candidate for the next presidential election is failing to draw major public interest, while attention is rather being focused on the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) and other opposition contenders.
Political pundits say this trend reflects the public's desire for a change in leadership as shown in opinion polls.
The DPK's presidential primary kicked off last Thursday, bringing nine contenders to a press day event in the form of a live interview show where the potential candidates answered questions from reporters. But the live event, broadcast via the party's YouTube channel, failed to generate the level of attention the DPK hoped for, with the number of views reaching only about 900.
Meanwhile, the main opposition PPP held a debate, broadcast live through the party's YouTube channel, June 27 to select its spokesperson, and drew about 30,000 viewers.
Adding to the DPK's concerns is an internal dispute among members over how to proceed with the primary.
The party initially announced that three experts would interview the contenders about their policies in a series of live shows. But the appointment of one of the three, Kim Kyung-yul, an accountant who was one of the authors of a book that accused former Justice Minister Cho Kuk of corruption, faced strong opposition from some party members, leaving Kim being excluded from the panel.
Another expert, Kim So-youn, the CEO of an online news aggregation service, refused the invitation to join the panel, leaving the DPK to approach two other interviewers.
Political watchers said the DPK is struggling to draw public attention, because many people are seeking change, as evidenced by the DPK's crushing defeat by the PPP in the April 7 mayoral by-elections in Seoul and Busan. The DPK's defeat was largely attributed to the ruling bloc's series of policy failures especially in creating jobs and stabilizing soaring apartment prices, as well as real estate speculation scandals involving employees of the state-run Korea Land and Housing Corp. (LH) and some ruling bloc figures.
Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, left, and Rep. Kwon Young-se of the main opposition People Power Party meet at a restaurant in central Seoul, Saturday, to discuss the former's possible joining of the main opposition party. Yonhap
According to a survey of 1,000 adults conducted from last Tuesday to Thursday by local pollster Gallup Korea, 49 percent of respondents said they hope the opposition camp will take the helm of the administration in next March's presidential election, while 38 percent said they hope the current ruling bloc will remain in power.
Meanwhile, many potential contenders from the opposition are entering the presidential race.
In the PPP, three-term lawmaker, Rep. Ha Tae-keung, first-term lawmaker, Rep. Yun Hee-suk, former Incheon Mayor Ahn Sang-soo and Hwang Kyo-ahn, former chairman of the United Future Party, a predecessor of the PPP, officially declared their bid for the party primary, while other contenders, including former four-term lawmaker Yoo Seong-min, Jeju Provincial Governor Won Hee-ryong and Rep. Hong Joon-pyo, former chairman of the Liberty Korea Party, another predecessor of the PPP, are also expected to join the race soon.
From outside the PPP, former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, who has been leading in popularity polls for presidential contenders since his resignation from the top prosecutor post in early March, also declared his bid, June 29.