Candidates running for the chairmanship of the ruling Saenuri Party on Thursday slammed the alleged nomination meddling by members with close association to President Park Geun-hye.

Recent news reports based on taped phone conversations have claimed that Reps. Choi Kyung-hwan and Yoon Sang-hyun pressured another party member against running in a constituency contested by key pro-Park member Rep. Suh Chung-won during the April 13 general election.

Follow-up reports have also suggested former senior presidential secretary for politics Hyun Ki-hwan made a similar phone call.

The controversy has led to non-Park members demanding legal measures. It has also laid bare loosening control in the camp that has been rallying around Park as she inches closer to her lame duck period.

The pro-Parks joined criticism against the implicated lawmakers, but also warned against aggravating factional conflict.

Rep. Choung Byoung-gug, a fifth-term non-Park member who intends to run for the party’s chairmanship, said in a radio interview, “One clear thing is that those at the center of power corroborated to pressure a specific person ahead of the election.”

“It is incredibly shameful. The party must swiftly set up a committee to look into the case and take any legal measures if necessary.”

Rep. Lee Ju-young, another runner, told reporters, “It was incredibly wrong, I feel shamed as one of the senior-ranking members. But it is not appropriate to amplify the party’s rivalry through this issue.”

Rep. Lee Jung-hyun, a key pro-Park member running against Choung and Lee Ju-young, was more reserved.

“There still exists backwardness in the politics of our country that is nearly 70 years old,” he said in a radio interview. The former presidential secretary, however, refrained from commenting further when prodded by the interviewer, saying, “As I was not involved, I do not know.”

The party has also been roiled by a separate allegation involving the current chief presidential secretary for civil affairs Woo Byung-woo.

News reports have accused him of engaging in dubious real estate dealings in 2011 with a company currently embroiled in a corruption case. He is also accused of covertly representing a scandal-ridden business owner during his days as an attorney. Woo flatly denied the allegations on Wednesday, saying they were “humiliating.”

The non-Park members said it was time for Woo to step down from his post, regardless of the truth, as the integrity of his position has already been tarnished. The senior secretary for civil affairs is responsible for maintaining discipline among public servants and vetting high-ranking officials.

“Such disarray ultimately weakens the power of the president. I do think that it would help the administration if (Woo) makes the decision himself (to leave),” Rep. Na Kyung-won said in a radio interview.

Rep. Lee Hye-hoon said in another interview that it would be difficult for the investigation to remain fair if Woo stayed in his post. The prosecution is currently looking into the case following Woo’s suit against local media for reporting on the allegation.

The opposition parties, meanwhile, took full advantage of the scandals to lash out at the administration and the rival party.

The Minjoo Party of Korea and the People’s Party also increased pressure on the Saenuri Party, joining the move to draw up a law to establish a special investigation bureau responsible for high-ranking officials to ensure objectivity and independence.

The Minjoo Party on Thursday formed a task force to prepare the bill.

“It is meaningless for Woo to resist any more even when some of the ruling party members are calling for his resignation,” said Rep. Park Wan-joo, the chief deputy floor leader of the Minjoo Party.

“The allegations surrounding Woo are proof of the rampant immorality in the Park Geun-hye administration.”

People’s Party’s interim chief Rep. Park Jie-won also called on Woo to step down and face thorough investigation.

“His intent to undergo the probe as the senior secretary for civil affairs is equivalent to a threat (against the prosecution),” he said.

(khnews@heraldcorp.com)