By Do Je-hae
Staff Reporter
The opposition Democratic Party (DP) is facing an intense power struggle following its decision not to nominate Chung Dong-young for the by-elections on April 29.
The former unification minister and presidential candidate, who was defeated by President Lee Myung-bak in the 2007 poll, was seeking a political comeback in the National Assembly by running as a DP candidate in his hometown Deokjin district in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province.
Since the 56-year-old formally announced his bid, the party has been split between loyalists to Chairman Chung Sye-kyun and the followers of the former unification minister.
Aides close to Chung Dong-young, including Rep. Moon Hak-jin, worry about a possible breakup of the party and have asked that Chairman Chung retract the decision. They are asking for a meeting of DP lawmakers today to discuss the issue.
Though Chung has yet to show any public display of discontent toward the party's decision, he has indicated his running for the by-election as an unaffiliated independent candidate.
Currently in seclusion in Jeonju as he weighs his next move, he has refused to speak with Chairman Chung even though the chairman was in the city recently for negotiations. Party leaders are currently seeking dialogue with Chung Dong-young to dissuade him from opting for an independent candidacy.
Meanwhile, Chairman Chung is expected to unveil the lineup of candidates to run in the Incheon (Bypyeong) and Jeonju (Deokjin) districts today. Party leaders are stressing that a ``strategic nomination'' of fresh candidates is crucial in securing a triumph in the race, especially in the Deokjin, Wansan and Bupyeong areas.
The 59-year-old has his own reasons for excluding Chung Dong-young from the DP's pool of candidates for the upcoming political battle to select five lawmakers, one mayor and seven city council members.
Chairman Chung says much is at stake for his party, saying the by-elections should be a public judgment on what he calls the policy mistakes of the Lee Myung-bak administration and the ruling Grand National Party.
The party chairman Chung believes that his chairmanship will be called into question if his candidates fail to prevail in the Deokjin and Bupyeong contests.
He is also trying to keep the DP from being perceived as a pro-Jeolla party. He believes that Chung Dong-young's triumph in the by-election as a DP candidate will add to the stereotype. The liberal DP has had a long history of commanding support from the southwestern region.
Chairman Chung is concerned about his position within the party if Chung Dong-young returns as a DP lawmaker after a self-imposed hiatus following consecutive failures in the 2007 presidential election and the 2008 parliamentary vote.
The former presidential candidate of the now-defunct Uri Party, predecessor of the DP, nonetheless, remains one of the most visible and popular liberal politicians to emerge from the region.
Chung Dong-young faces a critical juncture in his 13-year political career, as all eyes are on his widely expected decision to leave the party and join the race as an independent, which would signal a break from his signature stance as a leading liberal politician representing the Jeolla provinces.
He is highly popular there, commanding support of 50 percent-plus in his home district.