A powerful labor group’s announcement Tuesday that it would withdraw its support for the Unified Progressive Party is expected to bolster reformists’ move to dissolve their scandal-ridden party and create a new political group.

After a heated 11-hour discussion, The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions approved a proposal to sever ties with the UPP, citing its failure to overhaul the scandal-hit party. The labor umbrella group is the biggest backer for the leftist party. Out of 39 steering committee members, 27 voted in favor of breaking with the party.

“We offered the UPP a chance to win back our support by displaying its ability to reform,” said the union chief Kim Young-hoon in a radio interview on Tuesday.

The union issued an ultimatum to the UPP back in May demanding drastic reforms and strong measures against far-left members accused of election fraud.

“The party isolated itself from the public by ignoring such urgent calls.”

The party failed last month to eject the disputed lawmakers ― Reps. Lee Seok-ki and Kim Jae-yeon ― and disappointed its longtime backer as well as the main opposition Democratic United Party, a potential political ally for the year-end presidential election.

The breakaway of the influential union is expected to boost the cause for the reformists who have been moving to separate themselves from the party’s former mainstream faction and to establish a new political entity.

Among some 75,000 party members who hold voting rights, over 46 percent belonged to the umbrella group, as of May this year.

Though the confederation said that breaking with the UPP was an independent decision, it was largely seen to be in favor of the reformists led by party chief Kang Ki-kab and their attempts to create a new political party.

Major independent labor unions already announced their support for Kang’s leadership in June, censuring the former mainstreamers for refusing to step down.

“We are open to all possibilities, including the creation of a new labor party or a partnership with another progressive party,” said Kim.

The reformers indicated their determination to move on from the union’s decision.

“We feel utterly devastated (over the result) but will seek a solution to renew progressive politics,” said Lee Jeong-mi, reformist member and spokesperson of the party’s decision-making body.

Party loyalist Rep. Lee Sang-kyu, however, blamed Kang’s group for disrupting party unity and splitting progressive members apart.

In addition to withdrawing support, the KCTU also confirmed its plan to conduct a nationwide strike this month and stage a protest against hiring irregular workers.

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