By Do Je-hae
The Sung Woan-jong scandal is emerging as a deciding factor in the outcome of the April 29 by-election.
Four seats are up for grabs, with rival parties competing in all the constituencies ― Gwanak-B in Seoul, Joongwon-B in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, Seogu-B in Gwangju and Ganghwa-B in Incheon.
Confident in its economic pledges, the ruling Saenuri Party had initially foreseen victory in more than two constituencies, especially in Seongnam and in Incheon.
But public support is cooling for the ruling party in the post-Sung period as the high-profile scandal involves some key figures in the Park Geun-hye administration.
The Saenuri Party has taken an apologetic tone in its campaigning, taking a step back from its traditional showy promotional tactics.
"As leader of my party, I apologize for leaving many voters disappointed with the Sung scandal," Chairman Kim Moo-sung said, Friday. He was rallying support for his party's candidate Oh Shin-hwan in Gwanak-B in Seoul. "We will use the scandal as an opportunity to clean up politics," he added.
Kim also said Saturday that he was willing to oust any party member that turns out to be guilty of bribery allegations. The remark came during his visit to Seogu-B and Ganghwa-B districts.
Voters in Seoul’s Gwanak-B and Seogu-B have favored liberal parties. Since the 13th general elections in 1988, liberal party candidates have won every election in the two constituencies. Incheon and Seongnam have been strongholds for conservative parties in recent years.
The opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) is using the scandal to its full advantage, asking voters to judge the ruling party and the Park government for their corruption.
"This election is about judging the unprecedented case of corruption that has hit the Park government," said NPAD floor leader Woo Yoon-geun campaigning in Gwanak-B, Friday.
Party leaders started off Sunday with a visit to a memorial for the victims of the April 19, 1960 revolt that overthrew the autocratic Syngman Rhee government.
Although the vote will pick only four lawmakers, it carries weight for Kim and NPAD Chairman Moon Jae-in because it is their first election since assuming their respective posts.
Moon has threatened to propose a bill to impeach the prime minister, who allegedly received 30 million won ($27,714) in cash from the late Sung, the former chairman of Keangnam Enterprises who committed suicide on April 9. He left behind a list of names of core members of the Park administration who accepted illegal funds from him.
The main opposition will discuss the bill for the prime minister’s removal during a meeting of its Supreme Council today.
To distance itself from the scandal, the Saenuri Party is trying to renew voters’ attention to its economic pledges which are designed to meet the particular needs of the different constituencies.
For the Gwanak area, the party has proposed establishing a hub for youth business ventures called Gwanak CUBE. For Gwangju, a traditional stronghold of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), the ruling party has envisioned several new facilities to aid job growth. It also has plans for new infrastructure, such as a subway link in Gyeonggi Province.