The liberal opposition parties on Tuesday hinted at reestablishing a left-wing alliance ahead of the December presidential election by calling for unified opposition against the ruling camp on pending issues.

The main opposition Democratic United Party, led by floor leader Rep. Park Jie-won, submitted a motion demanding that Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik be dismissed over the disputed Korea-Japan intelligence pact. The minority Unified Progressive Party pledged to support the motion in the upcoming plenary session.

“Kim disregarded the people and the parliament by snap-passing the crucial agreement behind closed doors,” DUP spokesperson Rep. Lee Un-ju quoted Park as saying.

UPP floor leader Rep. Sim Sang-jeung, though she did not sign in the DUP’s motion, also demanded that the prime minister take responsibility.

The two parties’ conciliatory moves were boosted by the recent election of reformist Kang Ki-kab as the new leader of the UPP.

They also blasted the Saenuri camp’s presidential frontrunner Rep. Park Geun-hye, who spoke in a media forum on the previous day.

“Rep. Park speaks of economic democratization, but her logic is still in favor of conglomerates and the privileged,” said DUP chief Rep. Lee Hae-chan in a radio interview on Tuesday.

Rep. Roh Hoe-chan of the UPP also accused her of failing to understand the concept, which had traditionally been pushed by liberal figures.

The parties also agreed to oppose the reappointment of National Human Rights Commission chief Hyun Byung-chul and Supreme Court justice candidate Kim Byung-hwa.

Both disputed figures were nominated by the president and have recently faced parliamentary hearings, only to meet fierce resistance from the opposition camp.

However, the prospect of a successful opposition alliance remains uncertain as controversies surrounding the scandal-ridden UPP linger.

The UPP must first get past its vote-rigging scandal and pro-communist image, negatives largely represented by two disputed lawmakers ― Lee Seok-ki and Kim Jae-yeon.

“We will discuss their expulsion in the party’s workshop tomorrow and adopt the issue in the party meeting on Thursday,” said floor leader Sim.

Newly-elected party chief Kang Ki-kab, too, hinted at expelling the two during his meeting with DUP counterpart Lee on Monday.

“It is our plan to find common ground with the DUP on basic policies such as economic democratization and then work on candidate unification,” Kang said Tuesday.

“Though we still have a long way to go, the left-wing unity is now in the process of recovery.”

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)