Ruling party struggling to distance itself from President Moon

Ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Chairman Rep. Song Young-gil, center, speaks during a Supreme Council meeting of the party at the National Assembly in Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun

President Moon still enjoys solid job approval rating in final year in office

By Jung Da-min

The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and its presidential hopefuls are in a dilemma over whether to distance themselves from President Moon Jae-in in the lead-up to the next presidential election in March, 2022.

To appeal to voters who want a change in leadership, the ruling camp and its presidential hopefuls need to create a different image from the current administration. But at the same time, the President's job approval rating has still remained at a solid 40 percent in his final year in office, making it hard for them to turn their backs on him.

Lee Cheol-hee, senior presidential secretary for political affairs, issued a politely-worded warning to the ruling party's presidential hopefuls telling them not to attempt to distance themselves from the President by confronting him to raise their own presence.

"There have been no other presidents before Moon who had 40 percent approval ratings in their fifth year in office," Lee said during a YouTube talk show at local broadcaster JTBC, Tuesday, referring to Moon's relatively high approval in the last year of his single, five-year term. "I believe no one will be able to become the next president by antagonizing President Moon," Lee said.

Presidential contenders of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) attend an event held by the party to present their policy pledges, at Yeon Studio in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. From left are former Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, former Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun, former DPK Chairman Lee Nak-yon, Rep. Park Yong-jin, South Chungcheong Province Governor Yang Seung-jo, Gangwon Province Governor Choi Moon-soon, and Rep. Kim Du-kwan. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun

For Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, the front-runner among presidential contenders of the DPK, a major hurdle in moving up to the final round of the party primary is a possible backlash from enthusiastic supporters of Moon. Lee, who competed against Moon in the primary for the 2017 presidential election, often made outspoken comments critical of Moon during his campaign. But this time, he is refraining from criticizing the administration's policies.

Announcing his presidential bid in a video released through online channels including YouTube and Facebook, July 1, Lee said, "I will add, fill and fix policies built on the foundation of proud governments under Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in."

Gyeonggi Governor Lee Jae-myung, the front-runner among eight presidential contenders from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, makes a policy presentation at an event organized by the party as a part of its primary, held Wednesday at Yeon Studio in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. Joint Press Corps

Other DPK presidential contenders are also refraining from criticizing the main policies of the current administration, although they are pointing out some failures of the administration, such as its attempts to stabilize soaring apartment prices and the ineffective vetting of some key government officials who have been embroiled in corruption scandals.

But at the same time, the DPK is struggling to draw public interest in the primary, as attention is rather being focused on the main opposition People Power Party and other opposition contenders, reflecting the public's desire for change. Such a trend was evidenced by the DPK's crushing defeat by the PPP in the April 7 mayoral by-elections in Seoul and Busan. Political observer attributed the DPK's election defeat to its policy failures especially in creating jobs and stabilizing housing prices, as well as real estate speculation scandals involving employees of the state-run Korea Land and Housing Crop. (LH) and some ruling bloc figures.

On taking office in early May, DPK Chairman Rep. Song Young-gil vowed all-out efforts to overcome the ruling bloc's crisis, saying he would pay more attention to the opinions of the general public.

Ruling Democratic Party of Korea Chairman Rep. Song Young-gil speaks during a Supreme Council meeting of the party at the National Assembly in Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-geun

In a forward-looking move, Song apologized at a party press conference, June 2, for having caused disappointment especially among young people, over former Justice Minister Cho Kuk's alleged use of his position to help his children get admitted to prestigious universities.

But Song's efforts to create a fresh image by distancing the DPK from Cho also faced a backlash from some party members. As part of the primary, the party organized an event July 4 where three experts would interview the contenders about their policies. The party initially appointed Kim Kyung-yul, an accountant who was one of the authors of a book that accused the former justice minister of corruption, as a member of the expert panel. But the party withdrew the decision after facing strong opposition from some party members.