UPP leader apologizes for failure to expel scandal-ridden lawmakers


After failing to kick out two lawmakers accused of vote rigging, the Unified Progressive Party faces an escalating internal rift, a wave of defections and deeper isolation from the public and political parties.

Resistance from old-guard leftists frustrated the reformists’ move to expel Lee Seok-ki and Kim Jae-yeon, the two key figures of the election fraud scandal, on Thursday.

The party’s website was flooded Friday with comments from rank and file members threatening to leave the party.

Reformists lambasted the former mainstreamers for driving the party further into crisis.

The main opposition Democratic United Party expressed skepticism about the prospect of a future alliance with the leftist party against the ruling Saenuri Party.

Of 13 UPP lawmakers, seven participated in the vote on late Thursday. Six supported it and one abstained, falling one short of the majority required to deprive a lawmaker of party membership.

Floor leader Rep. Sim Sang-jeung offered to resign immediately after the vote.

Chairman Kang Ki-kab apologized to the public on Friday.

“The politics of progress lost their way. We committed a sin once again to the people and party members who expected our self-examination and reflection,” he said.

Kang and other party leaders canceled most of their schedules on Friday. He is expected to unveil the next course of action in the near future.

“All were taken aback by the unexpected result,” said Rep. Roh Hoe-chan in a radio interview on Friday.

“It seems that our party has yet to reach the bottom.”

Despite a deepening rift, observers noted that the minority party may not easily break up ahead of the year-end presidential election.

The UPP won a total of 13 parliamentary seats in the April general election, failing to acquire 20 seats required to form a parliamentary negotiation group.

The failure to expel the two lawmakers has further clouded its chance to restore alliance with the DUP.

DUP chief Rep. Lee Hae-chan and floor leader Rep. Park Jie-won earlier demanded that the UPP expel the defiant members, whose vote-rigging and pro-communist image have alienated center-left voters.

“I doubt that the people will consent to the result,” said DUP spokesperson Park Yong-jin.

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