By Chung Min-uck
Rep. Sohn Hak-kyu, chairman of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), offered to resign Tuesday, to take responsibility for his party’s defeat to an independent in the competition for a unified liberal candidate.
Lawyer-turned-activist Park Won-soon won the ticket of the opposition Monday, dealing a fatal blow to Sohn and DP members who backed their party’s candidate Park Young-sun.
“It is without question that the main opposition party which has a 60-year history has failed to put up a candidate,” Sohn was quoted as saying by party spokesman Rep. Lee Yong-sup. “It is a chairman’s duty to step down over the matter, showing responsibility to the people and party members.”
The DP chairman added that he will support Park Won-soon, the liberal camp’s newly elected candidate, even after his resignation.
Prior to the announcement, senior lawmakers of the DP including Supreme Council member Rep. Chung Dong-young and former Prime Minister Han Myeong-sook attempted to dissuade Sohn from resigning. At a closed-door meeting of the Supreme Council, the members said, “Sohn is not entirely to blame for the defeat and his stepping down from the position could lead to a further weakening of the DP’s status in the political landscape.”
In a later meeting with senior DP members, Han also said, “It’s time for the DP to unite to support Park, so we oppose the resignation of the chairman.”
Sohn had initially planned to hold a press conference Tuesday to officially declare his resignation, but was dissuaded from doing so by the senior members.
After postponing the conference, DP spokesman Rep. Lee said that the party chairman was having second thoughts after listening to their views.
However, junior members of the party called for a change in the leadership to comply with public demands.
Two-term DP lawmaker Ooh Che-chang said, ”I really feel a sense of shame that the party does not have the support of the people.”
“The structure of the party should be changed completely.”
Sohn has led the party since last October. The DP leader’s popularity and leadership reached a high point when he won the Bundang-B district of Seongnam by beating then ruling Grand National Party (GNP) candidate and former GNP Chairman Kang Jae-sup in the April by-election. The district had long been considered a stronghold of the GNP.
Yet, his leadership was put to a test following a series of blows inside and outside the party. Sohn’s push to select a unified liberal candidate made slow progress, and his ability was questioned after Ahn Cheol-soo, an entrepreneur-turned-professor and rising political dark horse, declared his support for liberal activist Park who shares a similar support base as the DP.
Analysts say that the emergence of liberal political figures outside the DP will damage the party’s image ahead of general and presidential elections next year.
The main opposition party plans to open a general meeting today to make a final decision on whether to accept Sohn’s resignation.
Under the party constitution, Rep. Chung would succeed Sohn since the Supreme Council member came second in the party leadership selection last year. Alternatively, the DP could reshuffle current leaders following the demands of junior party members.
Meanwhile, insiders say that Sohn’s resignation offer is intended to pressure Park to join the DP.