By Lee Tae-hoon
Staff Reporter
Rep. Chung Dong-young filed an application Tuesday with the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) to rejoin the party from which he defected last March in defiance of a decision to block him from running in parliamentary by-elections.
DP spokesman Woo Sang-ho said the party welcomes Chung's return, which will be processed in accordance with party regulations. But some members, mostly supporters of party Chairman Chung Sye-kyun, reiterated their objections to the move.
Two other independents, Reps. Shin Kuhn and You Sung-yop elected in the DP's home turf of North Jeolla Province, also submitted an application to retrieve party membership.
Chung said in a statement that his decision coincides with the DP's need to form a broad alliance to win big in the June 2 elections to pick mayors, governors and council members, which will lay the groundwork for the 2012 presidential race.
The application comes six days after he sat down in one-on-one talks with DP Chairman Chung Sye-kyun to apologize for running in the April 29 by-elections.
``I regret burdening the party in the by-elections,'' the former presidential candidate said in a statement. ``I'd like to seek understanding from fellow politicians whose hearts I broke in the process of fiercely competing in the elections.''
Chung dealt a blow to the liberal party by winning as an independent in a North Jeolla district, where he was previously twice elected to the National Assembly.
The political heavyweight hinted that he would not challenge the leadership of the DP in the near future.
``I will not hesitate to lower myself and take the steepest and most rugged path,'' Chung said.
However, Ahn Hee-jung, a member of the party's decision-making Supreme Council, strongly opposed his return, saying it was premature for him to rejoin the party.
DP regulations state that defected members are not permitted to return to the party for at least one year, unless it is approved of at an executive committee meeting.
``The party will thrive when it gives carrots to those who follow its instructions and sticks to those who disobey,'' Ahn said.
He pointed out that Chung should be banned from rejoining the party for at least another two months, given that he withdrew from the DP on March 25, 2009.
Chung has encountered political setbacks since he was defeated by President Lee Myung-bak in the 2007 presidential election by a big margin.
Lee secured 47.8 percent of the vote, while Chung, a former unification minister, earned 26.1 percent. Chung also suffered a defeat in the 2008 general elections to his Grand National Party rival Chung Mong-joon, who now serves as the governing party's chairman.