Yangsan revives Lee-Roh rivalry

Campaigning for the Oct. 28 parliamentary by-elections kicked off in five constituencies yesterday, with the race in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, drawing attention. That race features a showdown between an ex-ruling party leader and an aide to late former President Roh Moo-hyun.

Former Grand National Party Chairman Park Hee-tae and Song In-bae, former political assistant to Roh, are expected to fiercely contest the seat in Yangsan, left vacant earlier this year following the conviction of a GNP lawmaker for election law violation. Six other candidates are running in the constituency.

Political observers note the race between Park and Song may turn into a proxy war between President Lee Myung-bak and Roh, who committed suicide in May. Roh`s supporters have criticized Lee and the prosecution for driving Roh to commit suicide facing a harsh investigation into corruption involving his family and confidants.



At first, there was no doubt that the voters of Yangsan would pick a candidate from the conservative GNP as it is regarded as one of strongholds for the ruling party.

However, conflict has since been sighted within the GNP.

Then-GNP Chairman Park strongly expressed his hopes of returning back to the National Assembly as a party legislator, while other possible candidates Kim Yang-soo, former chief assistant of Assembly Speaker Kim Hyong-o, and Yoo Jae-myung, loyal to former GNP Chairwoman Park Geun-hye, also threw their hats into the ring.

Kim had already served as a legislator in Yangsan from 2004-2008 and Yoo, a principal research scientist at the Korea Ocean Research and Development Insitute, ran as an independent in Yangsan in the previous general elections.

But the candidacy went to the former GNP chief, and the other two registered as independents.

Following the ruling party`s action, members of the main opposition Democratic Party offered candidacy to Moon Jae-in, who move as chief presidential secretary.

Some firmly believed that it could turn out to be a winning move if Moon takes part in the election.

Moon may be able to win hearts in the area for he, as well as the former president, is a native of South Gyeongsang Province. Combined with the strategy of convincing some disaffected GNP voters, the DP was confident that Moon would rise as a competitive match with the GNP`s candidate.

Moon, however, refused to join domestic politics, leaving no other option for the main opposition party but to devise an alternative plan - granting it to Song In-bae, a former political assistant for late President Roh.

Seating Moon as chief of Song`s election campaign committee, about 50 politicians loyal to Roh, including past Welfare Minister Rhyu Si-min and DP Supreme Council member Ahn Hee-jung, gathered in Yangsan and held a press conference Wednesday to appeal to voters.

"The residents of Yangsan must make their evaluations on the GNP," said Moon. "Park is a candidate that was excluded from the candidate list in his own area. How could a person like himself revive Yangsan?"

Rhyu, a widely recognized Pro-Roh figure, also asked the residents to give their ballots to Song.

"Please permit giving political life to at least one person, the youngest one who belongs to former President Roh`s line," he said.

The GNP also embarked on its election campaign mission by stressing that the revival of Yangsan is only possible with a "legislator with power."

GNP Chairman Chung Mong-joon made attempts to back such assertion by visiting the constituency with other Supreme Council members later in the day.

Former legislator Kim Dong-ju, who previously served as a local lawmaker in Yangsan and also considered running in the by-elections, pledged full support for Park.

"I thought of participating in the race myself for once but I came to support Park based on belief that the spot should be given to a person who is ready to work. I`ll transform the election into a one that could be referred to as an exemplary case for all others," he told reporters.

(sharon@heraldm.com)



By Cho Ji-hyun