BMP lawmaker defects to LKP

Rep. Lee Hak-jae, left, shakes hands with Kim Byong-joon, the interim leader of the largest opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP), after joining the LKP at the National Assembly, Tuesday. Lee bolted from the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party, a split from the LKP's predecessor Saenuri Party, to the LKP to seek the unification of conservatives, he said. / Yonhap

By Park Ji-won

Rep. Lee Hak-jae of the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party (BMP), chairman of the National Assembly Intelligence Committee, announced his decision to defect to the largest opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP), Tuesday.

Lee, who was an LKP member before joining the BMP, said more BMP lawmakers, frustrated with the party's leadership and “lack of vision,” are preparing to move to the LKP.

Dozens of BMP members scuffled with Lee as he left a press conference after announcing his defection. They called Lee a “traitor” and “turncoat.” The BMP demanded Lee's resignation as the Assembly committee chief, claiming the successor should be a BMP lawmaker.

Earlier, Lee hinted that he may rejoin the LKP to unify conservatives.

“I will focus on unification and reform of the conservatives back in the LKP,” Lee said.

“I tried to revive the failed conservatives for the last two years outside of the party after the Park Geun-hye administration's sinking. But as you can see in the presidential election and local elections, it failed to get a consensus from the people.”

Lee's defection came after the LKP fired several LKP lawmakers, including some loyalists of former President Park Geun-hye, from key posts with influence on the nomination process for general elections, as part of reform measures, Tuesday.

Many critics expect his defection was tied to the LKP reform drive so he can secure one of the key positions and take back his influence in the LKP.

There are eight more BMP lawmakers who were formerly members of the LKP.

All eyes are on whether other remaining BMP lawmakers would follow Lee's step. Insiders, however, didn't see it coming soon as the next general election is not looming in the near future.

Also, Rep. Kim Tae-heum of the LKP, a Park loyalist, questioned the LKP over welcoming a former member from the splinter party, insisting there is a contradiction between the LKP's reform measure and his defection, as the drive was meant to remove LKP lawmakers who were accountable for the party's division.