Defections looming large at opposition

Another NPAD member quits to join Ahn

By Kang Seung-woo

Lim Nae-hyun

Kim Han-gil

Another lawmaker quit the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), Wednesday, to join a new party to be created by former NPAD co-leader Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo.

The party is now bracing for a further exodus of lawmakers, especially those based in the North and South Jeolla provinces where Ahn has emerged as the most popular politician since departing the NPAD on Dec. 13.

A sense of crisis is deepening inside the party as its beleaguered leader Rep. Moon Jae-in faces calls to step down in an effort to pave the way for sweeping party reform.

What concerns Moon more is that the party is losing public confidence quickly in its traditional stronghold — the two provinces.

Rep. Lim Nae-hyun, a first-term lawmaker whose constituency is in Gwangju, announced that he would leave the NPAD to join Ahn’s new party that is expected to be launched early February.

Lim is the fifth lawmaker to leave since Ahn left, and the second lawmaker from Gwangju following Rep. Kim Dong-cheol, who quit the party Sunday.

“Despite overwhelming support for Moon in the last presidential election, he has exploited and mistreated the region,” Lim said during a press conference at the National Assembly.

Out of the eight Assembly representatives for the city, only four are now affiliated with the NPAD, three of whom are also expected to declare their intention to follow Ahn.

Two other independent lawmakers Chun Jung-bae and Park Joo-sun also left the NPAD after complaining of Moon’s leadership.

At the same time, some NPAD lawmakers in South Jeolla Province are also showing signs they may leave the party.

“It is unpredictable which side I belong to, depending on public sentiment,” Rep. Park Jie-won said in a radio interview on Wednesday. Park, a de facto leader of legislators from the provinces, has urged Moon to step down to get the struggling party back on track.

According to a Gallup Korea poll released Friday, North and South Jeolla provinces are now giving more support to Ahn than Moon — 48 percent to 27 percent.

To make Moon’s situation worse, a mass exodus cannot be ruled out.

Kim Han-gil, who co-founded the NPAD with Ahn, has issued an ultimatum calling for Moon to resign his chairmanship, or he will leave.

Kim’s possible departure may lead to a mass exodus of his confidants, whose constituencies are in the capital area, including floor leader Lee Jong-kul.

In the wake of the departures, Moon said Wednesday that he has agreed to form an election campaign committee of all NPAD factions.

The party factions demand Moon and current leaders hand over their authority to the committee in preparation for the April 13 general election.

“If the committee can maintain a vision of political reform and find unity within the party, I will not regret giving up my chairmanship,” Moon said during a Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly.

“I am open to joining forces with any political groups who can stand against President Park Geun-hye’s dictatorship. Defection is not a solution and cannot be justified for any reason.”

In addition, he appealed to voters in North and South Jeolla who have given him the cold shoulder.

“I will try to live up to the region’s expectations, but it takes time,” Moon said. “I hope they will give me time to do so.”