Pro-N.K. controversy spreads to DUP in wake of Lim’s remarks


Ideological disputes over allegedly “pro-North Korean” lawmakers are prompting a war of words between parties, which could worsen in the lead up to the December presidential election.

The controversy ― originally implicating new legislators from the minority Unified Progressive Party ― is quickly spreading to the main opposition Democratic United Party, after a DUP activist-turned-lawmaker slandered North Korean defectors, calling them traitors.

The ruling Saenuri Party jumped at the chance to bash “pro-North Korean” elements in the DUP. The liberal opposition fired back by condemning Saenuri presidential frontrunner Park Geun-hye, a daughter of late President Park Chung-hee, who helped her father in his dictatorship in the late 1970s.

Observers said the ideological offensives in parliament would escalate ahead of the December presidential election as parties attempt to win over Korea’s security-sensitive voters.

“From the Saenuri Party’s perspective, it must definitely extend this (incident) into a question of ideology, because it will give them the upper hand. The problem is the opposition forces are actually helping them with this slip of the tongue,” said Shin Yul, political science professor at Myongji University.

On Sunday, Rep. Lim Su-kyung, who had served jail time for making an unauthorized visit to the North in 1989 as a student activist, came under fire for reportedly lashing out at a student defector and calling activist-turned-lawmaker Rep. Ha Tae-keung of the Saenuri an “apostate.”

Lim was a former member of the radical National Liberation group of student activists, whose leaders were accused of following North Korea’s “Juche” ideology. UPP Reps. Lee Seong-gi and Kim Jae-yeon, who are currently facing the ethics committee for their refusal to resign from the National Assembly, are also considered to have been staunch NL members.

Although Lim released a statement later in the day apologizing, members of the Saenuri leadership took turns to attack the first-term lawmaker and called on the DUP to take responsibility.

“While the matter of pro-North forces in the UPP is serious, the matter of pro-North forces in the DUP is also worrisome,” said Rep. Chung Woo-taik, a member of the Saenuri Party’s Supreme Council on Monday.

Saenuri spokesman Rep. Kim Young-woo said in a briefing, “This is a matter that cannot be wrapped up with a personal apology from Rep. Lim. The DUP that nominated Lim for the lawmaker’s post must formally apologize for her remarks and take responsible measures.”

Political pundits, however, cautioned against the Saenuri’s strategy of anchoring their campaign around left-bashing.

“Prematurely leading this into an ideological offensive is not necessarily an advantageous frame for the Saenuri Party, as the debate will eventually lead to questions over the Saenuri Party’s conservative colors and to former chairwoman Park Geun-hye, who is yet to clarify her position toward the North,” said Myongji University politics professor Kim Hyung-joon.

Shin Yul, on the other hand, advised the DUP against negative tactics.

“The DUP should refrain from criticizing Rep. Park in return because by doing so, it is getting caught up in the ideology frame set by the Saenuri Party, which already has the upper hand.“

The DUP, cornered by Lim remarks, instead turned to Rep. Park Geun-hye in an attempt to highlight her family connection to dictatorship.

“The public are anxious at the attempt by Rep. Park Geun-hye, who calls the (Park Chung-hee’s) May 16 military coup (in 1961) a revolution to save the country, to completely rule over the Saenuri Party and become a presidential candidate,” DUP spokesman Park Yong-jin said at a press briefing.

The DUP floor leader Park Jie-won, in the meantime, urged the members to be more cautious.

“I trust Rep. Lim’s apology to be sincere. I once again remind you all that DUP lawmakers must take caution in making comments regardless of where they are,” Park said at a morning meeting.

A significant number of DUP lawmakers that joined the 19th National Assembly are considered potential targets by the Saenuri Party for their background of having led movements for reunification as former members of “Jeondaehyup,” a nationwide university student’s association formed in 1987, which in 1993 became Hanchongnyeon, a nationwide student group outlawed for its pro-North Korean views.

For instance, lawmakers including Reps. Woo Sang-ho, Kim Tae-nyeon, Lee In-young, Oh Young-sik, Jung Cheong-rae and Choi Jae-sung are said to be former Jeondaehyup members.

There are also numerous DUP members who have reportedly been convicted of National Security Law violations such as Boo Jwa-hyun, who was arrested in 1990 for participating in a research organization that was deemed to uphold the North.

Political observers said parties should be careful not to overuse ideology to color a party as a whole for the sake of the presidential race.

“An overheated conflict using ideology would not be advisable not only for the inter-Korean relations and the stability of the peninsula, but also for the development of Korean politics,” North Korean studies professor Yoo Ho-yeol of Korea University said.

By Lee Joo-hee (jhl@heraldcorp.com)