Opposition leader's self-serving nomination fuels internal conflict

Kim Chong-in, interim leader of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea, arrives at his house in Gugi-dong, Seoul, Tuesday, after attending the party’s emergency committee meeting held at the National Assembly. He kept his mouth shut as reporters asked questions about his future plans, only saying that he needed more time to think. / Yonhop

By Jun Ji-hye

Kim Chong-in, interim leader of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK), is apparently seeking to dominate the party by placing himself in the No. 2 slot on the list of proportional representation candidates for the April 13 general election, experts said Tuesday.

His decision to nominate himself and his close allies as non-electoral candidates showcases his political ambition to expand his influence and leadership in the party, they said.

However, it could be seen as an abuse of authority as it rekindles conflict between Kim and party members; and also contradicts the current sentiment in favor of an overhaul of incumbents and senior members.

Kim nominated himself to be appointed under the proportional representation system, Sunday, a change from an earlier statement made Feb. 28 that he had no plan to stand for selection.

“We can see Kim’s political ambition as he placed himself as well as his close allies on the list of proportional representation candidates,” said Yoon Hee-woong, a senior researcher at Opinion Live. “This will cause open criticism from the mainstream supporters of the MPK, who have refrained from directly criticizing Kim so far in recognition that he was recruited by former Chairman Moon Jae-in.”

Yoon noted that most members of the MPK, who follow the legacy of the late President Roh Moo-hyun and his then chief of staff, Moon, only wanted Kim to reform the image of the opposition party, not to dominate it.

“It is inevitable that the mainstream is angered by Kim’s latest move,” he said.

Moon handed over full leadership authority of the MPK to Kim, the former chief campaigner for President Park Geun-hye during the 2012 presidential election, Jan. 27, in a bid to recover the party’s falling popularity caused by deepening factional disputes.

The MPK’s popularity started to rise after Kim joined the party, and observers assessed that he successfully quelled antagonism among party members after Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo, co-founder of the MPK’s predecessor, the New Politics Alliance for Democracy, quit the party following a power struggle with Moon.

But Kim’s self-nomination is reigniting internal disputes.

Amid a deepening backlash against the party leader, the MPK decided to push him back to No. 14 on the list of candidates, Monday, but soon changed its decision, saying it decided to leave the matter up to Kim.

Since then, Kim has yet to clarify his position on the issue.

Political analyst Hwang Jang-soo said that it would have been strategically better if Kim had placed himself in the No. 16 slot on the list of candidates, given that Nos. 1 to 15 are considered safe seats.

Placing himself there would have unified liberal voters and brought more support to the MPK, Hwang said.

“By placing himself in the No. 2 slot, which is considered a 100 percent shoe-in, Kim expanded his leadership role until next year’s presidential election and was likely trying to play some role in the presidential poll of next year, utilizing his ideas for economic and welfare policies,” Hwang said.

Kim actually indicated March 16 that he has ambitions for the presidential election, saying “I do not want to be a kingmaker.”

To protest the growing criticism, Kim refused to attend the party’s emergency and central committees meetings, Monday.

His aides noted that Kim even thought about stepping down as leader of the party.

Kim told reporters, “I cannot accept the criticism leveled against me. I will announce my decision soon.”

After the boycott, Kim attended the party’s emergency committee meeting Tuesday afternoon, but fell short of detailing his future plans, only saying, “I need more time to think.”

He was quoted as saying by the party officials that he felt exceedingly insulted by the criticism against him.

Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye