DP leader’s handling of scandals and divisions seen as test of presidential potential


Rep. Sohn Hak-kyu, leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, is grappling with a spate of political setbacks including an bribery scandal involving Seoul’s liberal education superintendent.

Observers said that these setbacks could serve as a test of his political fitness. His failure to weather such storms could hamper his presidential bid.

Aside from the scandal, an internal conflict over the methods and timing of the selection of the party’s candidate for Seoul mayoral by-election has put Sohn in a tough situation.

Some non-mainstreamers in the party have taken issue with the selection procedure. Some even argued that Sohn had been pushing to field a particular figure as a unified opposition candidate. Sohn denies this.

Many DP supporters have frowned on the cacophony within the party.

“There are concerns over what appears to be confusion within the party. Please, be careful not to give an unpalatable impression to the public by talking about what is not true,” Sohn was quoted by his associate as saying during a closed-door party session on Friday.

Speculation that Ahn Cheol-soo, a venture entrepreneur-turned-professor, would run for Seoul mayor as an independent candidate could be another setback.

Political analysts said a victory by Ahn, who is emerging as a powerful candidate, could cast doubt over whether Sohn can successfully lead the party through parliamentary and presidential elections next year.

The Seoul mayoral election is expected to be a major liberal-conservative showdown, which could have a critical impact on both ruling and opposition parties ahead of next year’s two major elections.

The ongoing investigation into Seoul education chief Kwak No-hyun is also expected to impede the DP’s efforts to swing the political pendulum in its favor. Kwak is alleged to have paid a rival candidate to withdraw form last year’s election.

Sohn is striving to promote party unity while planning to contact a variety of civic groups and other opposition parties to present a unified opposition candidate for Seoul mayor. This could brighten the political outlook for the opposition camp, analysts said.

“Sohn has the responsibility to field a unified candidate for Seoul mayoral election, which is seen as a prelude to next year’s parliamentary and presidential elections. (He) is now focusing everything on it,” DP secretary-general Rep. Jung Jang-seon told Yonhap News.

Meanwhile, DP factions are striving behind the scenes to bring their supporters together as they feel the need to regroup ahead of the party’s national convention expected to be held in December and the two 2012 elections.

Rep. Chung Dong-young is close to reestablishing a “Peace Welfare Network,” a group of his supporters, which almost fell apart after he lost in the 2007 presidential election.

Some presumed that Chung is taking steps to prepare for another bid for Cheong Wa Dae through this group.

A group of young DP members loyal to the late President Roh Moo-hyun is also expected to prepare for next year’s political schedules. The group includes Reps. Baek Won-woo and Hong Young-pyo.

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)