Conservatives face crisis as elections loom

By Park Ji-won

It has been nearly one year since former President Park Geun-hye, a conservative icon, was arrested on corruption charges including abuse of power and bribery; and liberal President Moon Jae-in was elected. About one month ago, another former conservative president, Lee Myung-bak, was arrested on graft charges.

It may be natural for voters, fed up with conservative politicians' failed state management, to lean on the liberal ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), seeking new hope. This has resulted in a nearly 70 percent support rating for President Moon and about 50 percent for the ruling party.

The conservatives are losing their presence. The main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) with 116 out of 293 National Assembly seats is barely maintaining its reputation as an alternative force against the administration, while the minor opposition Bareun Mirae Party (BMP) is being criticized for its lack of a conservative identity.

Many expect that the ruling DPK will triumph in the upcoming local elections in June, while the LKP will lose even more of its standing.

No fresh candidates

The conservatives have no fresh candidates for the local elections. The LKP is choosing politicians regarded as members of the “old guard” for the elections, having trouble recruiting new faces.

The LKP nominated former Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo, a strong advocate for former President Park, for the Seoul mayor post, which is often considered as a springboard to the presidency. The minor opposition BMP's Ahn Cheol-soo also announced his bid for the Seoul mayoral race last week.

These candidates are experienced and well-known as politicians, but they are regarded as representing the legacy of past politics. It may be difficult for them to beat one of the DPK contenders, incumbent Mayor Park Won-soon who has a support rate of about 50 percent.

“Voters living in Seoul, although they may have the intention to support conservatives, find it difficult to vote for the LKP as the party's candidates are considered old guard,” said political science professor Park Won-ho at Seoul National University.

“Basically, people's political inclination in Korea has been largely for the DPK since the 2016 general election. Without a major political incident unfavorable to the DPK, it will win in the local elections.”

Leadership crisis at LKP

Besides the predicament regarding candidates, political analysts say the conservatives' problem is a lack of capable leaders. LKP Chairman Hong Joon-pyo, who has been criticized for dogmatic decision-making, is facing calls to resign from senior party lawmakers after failing to recruit a competitive figure for the Seoul mayor candidacy.

Also, critics point out the LKP members have no sense of crisis, just taking the situation as Hong's personal failure rather than thinking of it as a “collapse of democracy” within the party.

“Many LKP members stay silent on many issues. It is comfortable for them not to stand out but to quietly stay in a party with many seats and finish the local elections and wait for the general elections in 2020,” professor Park said.

Wake-up call for new conservatives

Although conservative parties are expected to lose the upcoming local elections, if they are willing to continue to work as conservatives, this election can be a wake-up call for them to reunite their forces and be reborn, analysts say.

Critics point out that the parties need to break with the past and foster new figures who can keep rebranding their legacy. Park says recruiting new figures has to be the conservatives' survival tactic, adding Hong was one such figure.

“The conservatives should spend enough time in one or two years of crisis and come up with entirely fresh figures who can be backed by supporters of both the LKP and the BMP,” political commentator Choi Young-il said.

“When the conservatives cut ties with those linked to former Presidents Park and Lee, they can become a powerful force that can balance the liberals.”

Still, conservatives have a solid 20 percent support rate no matter what happens to them, the experts said.