Leadership member calls for shakeup, targeting President Lee’s confidants


Rep. Park Geun-hye’s drive to reform the Grand National Party faced a backlash Thursday, after one member of her leadership team called for a personnel shakeup targeting old-guard members and those close to President Lee Myung-bak.

Lawmakers loyal to the president vented out their resentment at the new leadership, saying it is acting like an occupation army, purging opponents.

At the center of the conflict was Lee Sang-don, professor of ChungAng University in Seoul chosen by Park as a member of her 11-member leadership council.

Lee on Wednesday urged the president’s confidants within the party to resign in responsibility for what he called mismanagement of state affairs.

“None of those who are responsible for many failures of the current administration have come forward to assume their responsibility,” he told a local media outlet. “Like this, we can’t tell people that we’re reforming.” 

The professor, in charge of political reforms in the GNP leadership council, also said those who held leadership positions in the party should exit gracefully and make room for fresh faces. Although he did not name any names, his remarks were seen as targeting the president’s older brother Rep. Lee Sang-deuk, his close aide Rep. Lee Jae-oh and former GNP chairs Reps. Chung Moon-joon, Ahn Sang-soo and Hong Joon-pyo.

Rep. Chang Je-won, who belongs to the pro-Lee camp, fumed at the remarks.

“A professor who just joined the party is wielding axes, deciding who among us should be kicked out. Who calls this reform?” he said. “This is a grave matter that threatens the unity of the party,” he added, demanding Park take disciplinary measures against the leadership council member.

Park on Thursday attempted to soothe angry members, playing down Lee’s remarks as expression of his “personal” view.

During a general gathering of GNP legislators, she said: “All of us could be an object to reform or a subject.”

“We don’t have enough time. We need to band together to pull our party out of the current crisis,” she said, stressing unity.

Despite her assurances, the issue of personnel reform is unlikely to subside.

Many of those belonging to the pro-Park faction believe the party should distance itself from the unpopular president to stand any chance to win two crucial elections next year.

Some said they share the same view with the professor. “I believe a majority of voters think that’s what the GNP should do,” a pro-Park lawmaker said on condition of anonymity.

Rep. Won Hee-ryong, an outspoken reformist with the GNP, lent his full support to the new leadership and its push for reforms.

“Rep. Park and President Lee have been archrivals, each leading large factional groups within the GNP. Park returned to the frontline of the party in almost five years after she lost to Lee in a 2007 race for the presidential nomination. Now considered as the GNP’s best shot at the next presidency, she began a drive to remake the sinking ruling party Tuesday, announcing the formation of an emergency leadership council. She pledged to renew the party to the core in order to win back trust from voters ahead of parliamentary election in April,” Won said.

By Lee Sun-young (milaya@heraldcorp.com)