By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter
Opposition parties plan to submit a motion to impeach Prime Minister Chung Un-chan to the National Assembly next week for his spearheading of the alternative plan for Sejong City.
Some supporters of Rep. Park Geun-hye of the ruling Grand National Party (GNP) showed signs of sympathy with the move, indicating the motion might be passed.
Political scientist Kim Hyong-joon labeled pro-Park legislators joining with opposition lawmakers as an attempt to challenge President Lee Myung-bak, saying there may be a price they will have to pay.
``If the supporters of Rep. Park vote for the motion and as a result it is passed, the message that they are trying to send is clear. They are ready to leave the ruling party,'' Kim told The Korea Times.
His comments came days after four opposition parties, including the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) and the minor Liberty Forward Party (LFP), said they would submit the dismissal motion to the Assembly this month.
Under the current law, at least half of lawmakers must vote for the measure to unseat him. If passed, President Lee Myung-bak is ``recommended'' to sack the prime minister.
The combined number of seats of the four opposition parties is 127 out of the 297 member legislature.
About 50 supporters of former GNP Chairwoman Park inside the ruling GNP are reportedly sympathetic to the motion, and if they join hands with the opposition parties, it will easily get approval.
Political analysts share the view that if Chung is dismissed, it will have a far-reaching impact on the overall political arena as well as local elections slated for June 2.
``The best description of the current situation over the Sejong City plan will be that the political clout of the future leader ― Park Geun-hye ― goes beyond that of incumbent President Lee, as Park appears to hold the key to the future of the prime minister,'' said Kim.
He, however, warned of the risk of Park flexing her muscles at a time when local elections are four months away.
``If Park and her supporters vote for the dismissal plan and therefore it is passed, I guess there will be a price that she will have to pay,'' he said.
Lessons from previous cases say that the challenge from a future leader against an incumbent ahead of major elections tends to deal a blow to the former as a backlash comes from the supporters of those who are in power.
The GNP's attempt to impeach the late former President Roh Moo-hyun in 2004 when Roh was in power led to wins for the then ruling party in the National Assembly elections.
In addition, Kim reminded of the effect of the motion to dismiss then Unification Minister Lim Dong-won, which was passed in 2001, by the then ruling camp.
After the dismissal, which was pushed by the then United Liberal Democrats led by Kim Jong-phil, was passed, the ruling DJP coalition, a partnership for power between liberals and conservatives, ended.
He didn't rule out the possibility of a split in the ruling party if the dismissal move becomes a reality.