By Yi Whan-woo
Presidential front-runner Moon Jae-in is becoming a major target of political offensives from both his conservative and liberal opponents after he won a landslide victory in the Democratic Party of Korea’s (DPK) first primary, Monday.
His victory in Gwangju and the two Jeolla provinces, the liberal bloc’s home turf known as Honam, boosted his chances of becoming the presidential nominee of the DPK.
Moon’s opponents are ratcheting up criticism of him by questioning his moral ethics, competence to unite the ideologically-divided country and ability to revive the sluggish economy, as well as his principles on national security and foreign affairs.
From the conservative side, the Liberty Korea Party (LKP) and Bareun Party called Moon untrustworthy, Tuesday, over his view on South Korea’s alliance with the United States, and North Korea.
The parties cited that Moon flip-flopped on the deployment of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery here. It also brought up Moon’s pledge to visit North Korea before the U.S. if he was elected president, which is against the customary visit to America by past presidents on their first overseas trip.
“Moon is reversing his words as easily as flip-flopping one’s hand,” said Rep. Lee Hyung-jae, the LKP’s chief policy maker.
Noting that Moon was a former chief of staff to the late President Roh Moo-hyun, Lee said, “Moon’s stance over THAAD reminds me of him calling for the re-negotiation of the free trade agreement with the U.S. after advocating it under the Roh administration.”
Rep. Lee Jong-koo, the Bareun Party’s chief policy maker, said, “It will be paradoxical to expect a strong alliance with the U.S. if Moon is elected president considering he first protested against THAAD and demanded a decision be left up to the next government, while the U.S. wanted to deploy it quickly.”
Regarding economic reform, conservative politicians claimed Moon is not reliable as he worked for the Roh government, which they accused of social polarization and the widening of the wealth gap during his five-year term in the 2000s.
Some of Moon’s opponents tried to link him with unresolved bribery allegations surrounding Roh and also with alleged favors given to Moon’s son in landing a job at a state-run company.
“Moon is believed to be trying to set up another government full of bribery,” said South Gyeongsang Gov. Hong Joon-pyo, an LKP presidential candidate. Hong is awaiting a Supreme Court’s ruling over a bribery scandal he was allegedly involved in.
From the liberal bloc, Moon’s intra-party presidential rivals, including South Chungcheong Gov. An Hee-jung, criticized him for having “a simple, binary” view for political reform.
An gained support of 20 percent in the primary against Moon’s 60.2 percent.
He claimed Moon’s plan to root out corrupt bureaucratic practices is only aimed at punishing officials from the conservative governments of the past nine years.
“It won’t resolve ideological division and complete uniting the people as pursued by the late President Roh,” An said.
People’s Party floor leader Rep. Park Jie-won lashed out at Moon for being “greedy,” claiming he violated the Election Law in the primary.
On Faeebook, he wrote, “Moon mobilized college students to vote for him and provided meals and cash to other voters. He should also clear suspicions surrounding his son.”
Moon has been the only candidate to get support of over 30 percent in presidential polls, Against this backdrop, the LKP and Bareun Party are seeking to join forces to raise their chances of a win over Moon. They are also considering forming an alliance with the People’s Party, the second largest liberal party.
The People’s Party’s presidential candidate Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo had a comfortable win in its primary in the Jeolla region, Monday, fueling speculation that Ahn may be able to defeat Moon by absorbing some of Moon’s supporters while also garnering votes from conservative voters.