By Kim Hyo-jin
A presidential hopeful and a senior lawmaker are expected to leave the ruling Saenuri Party amid the corruption scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her longtime confidant Choi Soon-sil, setting the stage for a massive defection.
The political turmoil has hit the governing side of the party as hard as it has hit Park, with its approval rating dipping to an all-time low and a large number of lawmakers demanding the resignation of its chairman, an outspoken loyalist to the President.
Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil, one of the potential presidential candidates from the ruling party, and three-term senior lawmaker Rep. Kim Yong-tae are expected to announce their departures as early as this week.
“Nam has made up his mind,” said one of his aides. “He is exchanging opinions on quitting the party with other party members, and the number of those who intend to act together is 10 or more.”
Kim clarified his intention, saying, “The only way of saving the ruling bloc is disbanding the Saenuri Party, but if it’s impossible, internal dissenters have no choice but to leave the party and I’m determined to be in the vanguard.”
In addition, their move could be followed by other fellow lawmakers, seeking to bolt from the embattled party.
Rep. Ha Tae-keung, a vocal critic of the President, is said to be mulling exiting the party.
“I will step forward to create a modern conservative party after ousting feudalistic conservatives from the Saenuri Party and disbanding the party itself,” Ha wrote in a text message sent to reporters.
They have been at loggerheads with the pro-Park leadership led by Chairman Lee Jung-hyun, a staunch ally to Park, over how to respond to the fallout of the country’s largest corruption scandal.
Lee has been adamant in his stance that he will not step down until the situation is settled, noting it could be sometime in December, in defiance of rising calls from rival party factions for his immediate resignation.
He said he will hold a national convention in January to elect a new leader, drawing severe backlash from the rival factions.
Amid the ever-expanding scandal, the party’s approval rating dropped to a record low of 15 percent according to Gallup Korea, Friday.
The anti-Park lawmakers formed their own “emergency committee” Tuesday, vowing to drive out presidential loyalists.
Choi has been indicted on charges including abuse of power and coercion. Despite having no official post, she had allegedly meddled in state affairs, accessing classified information and coerced conglomerates to donate 77.4 billion won ($66.1 million) in starting two non-profit foundations she controlled. President Park is suspected of having played a part in the corruption scheme.