War with ruling party may backfire

Liberal opposition People’s Party vice floor leader Rep. Lee Un-ju, right, pauses during a party meeting at the National Assembly, Monday. Lee, who defected from the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) in April, accused the DPK of peddling influence in the prosecution’s investigation into a fraudulent allegation involving senior People’s Party members. / Yonhap

People’s Party in deep crisis over fabrication sandal

By Kim Hyo-jin

The second-largest opposition People’s Party continued an all-out offensive against the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), Monday, following its Chairwoman Choo Mi-ae’s remarks that its leaders must have been involved in the scandal of the smear campaign against President Moon Jae-in.

The party claimed Choo used her influence on the prosecution, after it requested an arrest warrant for Lee Jun-suh, a former Supreme Council member Sunday on charges of spreading false information during the election campaign.

But critics view that the party has taken it too far to contain the fallout of the scandal that has rocked the party. Some say it could face a further public backlash when the party has already suffered falling support in opinion surveys.

“The party’s overly defensive move would not gain public understanding as it can be easily viewed as a mere political tactic to reclaim political ground,” said Choi Jin-bong, a professor at SungKongHoe University.

Choi Jin, a professor at Sehan University and the head of the Institute of Presidential Leadership, also agreed, saying, “The party’s furor at Choo is obviously its desperate move to turn the tables. It even asked for Choo’s resignation from politics, stretching it maybe too far. Unless it keeps a low profile, it will only face a bigger public backlash.”

The latest KSOI poll showed Sunday the support for the People’s Party was put at 3.8 percentage points ― a record low since it was established early last year. The respondents showed a negative response to the party’s explanation about the fabrication scandal. About 72 percent said they believe the party must have been involved in the illegal act systemically.

The prospect of the party overcoming the fallout of the scandal was further dimmed after it was revealed that its deputy floor leader Rep. Lee Un-ju swore when referring to irregular workers in an interview with a reporter. She said “bitches” when asked about irregular workers at school cafeterias who have been on strike, demanding a change of their status to regular workers, according to an SBS reporter.

The DPK requested Lee make an official apology to the public, fueling tension in the ongoing strife. “It should not be regarded as a personal remark,” Je Youn-kyung, a DPK spokeswoman, said.

The prosecution has investigated an allegation that Lee Yu-mi, a member of the People’s Party, fabricated information used to accuse Moon’s son Joon-yong of landing a full-time job at a public body in 2006 while his father worked as the senior presidential secretary during the run-up to the May 9 presidential election. It has expanded the investigation to other senior members to figure out if they had been involved in the fabrication or were aware of the flaw of the information.

While the People’s Party dismissed it as a “one-man crime,” the DPK leader claimed its denial was an attempt to protect its key senior members and it was a “collective” move encouraged by the party system, saying it will be willful negligence if such background is overlooked.

Following the prosecution’s request to an arrest warrant for Lee Jun-suh, People’s Party Park Joo-sun blasted out at Choo Monday, saying her remarks were the equivalent of a guideline to the prosecution and the matter must have been discussed at the meeting between the ruling party with the government and Cheong Wa Dae, Friday.