Return of old guard? Senior politicians' renewed election ambitions draw mixed views

Kim Moo-sung, former chairman of the Saenuri Party, now the ruling People Power Party, announces his bid to run in the April 10 general elections during a press conference at Busan Metropolitan Council, Jan. 15. Yonhap

Several seasoned politicians, who have previously served multiple terms in the National Assembly and occupied prominent political roles, are making a comeback to the political arena by declaring their candidacies for the upcoming general elections on April 10.

However, opinions on their bids are divided. Some politicians anticipate that the wealth of experience and ideas from the older generation will contribute to reforming the country's confrontational political landscape. On the flip side, many express concerns that the return of the old guard contradicts the ongoing trend of generational change.

During a press conference on Jan. 15, Kim Moo-sung, 73, former chairman of the Saenuri Party, a predecessor of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), announced his intention to run for a constituency in Busan in the general elections, to achieve his seventh term as a lawmaker.

“If younger politicians had been doing well, I would not have made a reelection bid,” Kim said. “Please understand that I am doing this because they are doing so badly.”

The constituency that Kim seeks to run in is comprised of Busan’s Jung and Yeongdo Districts, which is now represented by independent Rep. Hwangbo Seung-hee. Rep. Hwangbo quit the PPP after being indicted for violating the Political Funds Act and has no plans to run for reelection.

Kim said he seeks a PPP candidacy, but noted that he will run as an independent if he is disqualified during the party’s candidate recommendation process. “I cannot accept the idea of age becoming a reason for disqualification,” he said.

He said in a radio interview with broadcaster KBS, Wednesday, that “I want to be called ‘a golden boy,’ not ‘an old boy,’ out of respect for my experiences and wisdom.” He added, “more than half of the National Assembly members are first-term lawmakers, but politics these days do not get a positive assessment.”

Former National Intelligence Service Director Park Jie-won enters the Seoul Central District Court in southern Seoul's Seocho District, Jan. 12. Yonhap

Along with Kim, Lee In-je, 76, a former lawmaker and PPP adviser, announced his intention to seek a seventh term in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province, and former National Intelligence Service Director Park Jie-won, 82, has already made public his intention to run in Haenam, South Jeolla Province, as a main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) candidate.

Former United Future Party floor leader Shim Jae-chul, 66, has already registered as a PPP preliminary candidate for his sixth term in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, while former Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, 71, has announced his bid for a fifth term in Jeonju, North Jeolla Province.

“There are only a few old boys in Korean politics,” Chung said in a radio interview with broadcaster YTN on Monday. “The National Assembly needs a balance of experience, youth and expertise. You cannot win the battle with only new recruits.”

Despite the seniors trying to appeal with their experience, the mainstreams of both the PPP and the DPK are skeptical of their returns, saying this runs counter to the efforts to make a generational shift.

“It looks like old boys are seeking to return, but the public wants our party to have the old guard who served multiple terms conveniently make a sacrifice and not repeat past political disputes,” PPP Rep. Yoo Sang-bum said in a radio interview with broadcaster CBS on Jan. 16.

“Given this background, there could be various reviews on having him (Kim) as a candidate of the party.”

The DPK announced on Jan. 21 that there will be no penalties for candidates who haved served three or more terms during its candidate review. However, the party’s candidate recommendation committee head Im Hyug-baeg said, “I know that there are opinions that (seniors) should provide opportunities to younger generations.” He added, “There is hope for senior’s concession, just as Rep. Kim Min-ki did.”

He was referring to DPK Rep. Kim, a three-term lawmaker, who announced on Jan. 19 that he will give up his reelection bid to “fulfil my responsibility and make a sacrifice.”