The ruling Saenuri Party, after weeks of being chastened by corruption scandals, including one involving its former chief, is back on the offensive against opposition parties over the Korea-U.S. free trade agreement.

The FTA, unilaterally passed through the parliament by Saenuri members, is emerging as a key issue in the April 11 parliamentary election, with the main opposition Democratic United Party vowing to renegotiate or repeal the current deal, which it says is biased against Korea.

Leaders of the conservative party on Friday lambasted the DUP, saying the liberal bloc is “flip-flopping” on something they had introduced and campaigned for while in power. 

“The DUP is confusing us and the people by denying the FTA, which it had campaigned for as a ruling party under the previous President Roh Moo-hyun regime,” said Saenuri floor leader Rep. Hwang Woo-yea.

“I call on the DUP to stop this confusion and confirm its real stance on the issue.”

Saenuri members are accusing the DUP of changing its positions ― from one of support to one calling for a total repeal of the deal and then another for its renegotiation.

The FTA was initiated and sealed by Roh in 2007. The current administration of conservative President Lee Myung-bak led a renegotiation of the deal in 2010 at the U.S.’ request. The DUP claims that the balance of interest swung in favor of the U.S. during the renegotiation.

Earlier this week, DUP leaders said their stance is to push for talks with the U.S. to renegotiate the terms, and if renegotiation is not realized or their demands are not met by the U.S. side they will push for its total repeal.

“The current FTA is not what the Roh administration had pushed. Its terms, as well as exterior conditions, have been changed,” Han Myeong-sook, chairwoman of the DUP, said.

Rep. Lee Ju-young, Saenuri’s chief policymaker, fired back, showing during an official party meeting Friday a video clip of opposition leaders’ stating the need for a FTA with the U.S. years ago.

The video featured Han, during her stint as the prime minister under Roh, saying that the Korea-U.S. FTA is a national task which will help catapult the local economy into a new level.

“We can’t leave the future of our nation to a group of liars,” Lee said.

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