This year’s presidential election pushed “new politics” into Korea’s political lexicon. Independent candidate Ahn Cheol-soo’s campaign highlighted voter antipathy toward the crooked and undemocratic party establishment, making political reform the main electoral theme.

Though the crusader for reform vanished from the scene after quitting the race in support of liberal ally Moon Jae-in, his comments are still reverberating, calling for parties to renew themselves or face public disdain.

“We must hurry so that something like the Ahn Cheol-soo syndrome will not recur,” said Rep. Lee Hahn-koo, floor leader of the ruling Saenuri Party.

“It is no time for us to be excited over the election victory. We are to win over the public’s sustainable trust by continuing our efforts for political reform.”

Park Geun-hye’s victory in the election is attributed to, among other things, her success in co-opting Ahn’s flagship agenda of new politics during the campaign.

Earlier this year, the floor leader was the most active promoter of a drive to cut down on the excessive privileges of lawmakers.

But the efforts made little leeway as lawmakers remained unenthusiastic and parties were preoccupied with the election.

The reform movement gained momentum with a widespread sense of crisis gripping the political arena.

The rise of political rookie Ahn brought home to parties the possibility that they could be challenged again by alternative forces unless they achieved fundamental reform.

Professor-turned-politician Ahn swiftly rose as a key presidential election variable earlier this year, reflecting the public’s desire for a fresh figure.

He also exerted pressure on the other two major candidates, rising as a potential threat to the right-wing’s Park and as a rival to the DUP’s Moon in the opposition camp’s candidacy unification race.

He suggested a set of reform plans, such as reducing the number of parliamentary seats and diluting presidential power as well.

Though neither party fully embraced Ahn’s ideas, they respectively stepped up their campaigns on political renewal, in a move to win over the hearts of the moderate voters and political apathists.

Their plans included the abolition of party nomination in regional elections for local government posts and the operation of a permanent parliamentary committee on budget and accounts.

The main opposition Democratic United Party, too, pledged renewal but nevertheless suffered defeat in last week’s election.

The most imminent task for the liberal party is to overcome its intensifying factional disputes over the election results and fill the leadership vacuum.

“While the opposition camp is preoccupied with various aftermaths, it is crucial that the ruling party shows to the public the aspects of new politics,” Rep. Lee said.

Observers also noted that the agenda of new politics was now in the hands of the victorious ruling party.

“What matters the president-elect’s determination to achieve political reform, as vested interests are sure to oppose the plan,” said Shin Yul, a politics professor at Myongji University.

“President-elect Park Geun-hye also enjoys the support of the ruling Saenuri Party, which currently holds the majority of the parliament.”

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