De facto interim leader meets reformist members over reinvention of party


The Grand National Party’s former chairwoman Park Geun-hye on Wednesday moved to prevent a possible split of the embattled ruling party, after two reformist lawmakers departed in a growing rift over whether to disband the GNP.

Park, met reformist members and discussed what the party should do in order to win back the public’s confidence.

“Rep. Park was willing to hear (from the reformers themselves) what the reformers think she should do,” Rep. Hwang Yeong-chul, the party’s spokesperson said. 

Park is poised to return to the helm of the GNP after nearly five years, with tasks of redeeming the crisis-ridden party from political wilderness and guiding it into a general election in April. Her appointment as head of the emergency leadership council is to be confirmed at the party’s national committee meeting next week. Former chairman Rep. Hong Joon-pyo resigned last week amid mounting pressure from his ranks to vacate the seat for Park.

Although GNP members agreed on the new leader, they are sharply divided over how to reform the party.

While reformers ― mostly junior lawmakers ― demand the party be dissolved and reborn as a new group, those loyal to Park and senior members oppose the idea, saying they should let Park to decide what measures to take to salvage the troubled party. Park’s aides said she was also against the disbandment of the GNP.

On Tuesday, Rep. Jeong Tae-keun quit the party, expressing frustration at the party’s reluctance to change. Rep. Kim Song-sik said he would leave, if their demand for creation of a new party is not met. Local reports said more could follow suit.

Political observers said the rift over reform plans is the first test for Park as she strives to rebuild the party and prove to be of a presidential caliber. Park, a daughter of late military strongman Park Chung-hee, is considered the strongest presidential contender from conservatives.

The GNP has suffered a series of by-election defeats, corruption allegations and a devastating scandal in which its officials were involved in a cyber attack against the national election watchdog during Oct. 26 by-elections.

By Lee Sun-young (milaya@heraldcorp.com)