Throngs of Democratic United Party members threw their hats into the ring for the upcoming leadership race on Sunday, taking up the challenge against a purported frontrunner Lee Hae-chan.

The DUP is set to elect on June 9 its new leadership that will spearhead the party’s race toward the Dec. 19 presidential election. The party, which lost to the ruling Saenuri Party in the April general elections by taking 127 seats in the 300-member National Assembly, also faces an uphill battle in the presidential race against Saenuri favorite Park Geun-hye.

The candidates for the DUP’s leadership criticized in unison the reported pact between former Prime Minister Lee Hae-chan and newly elected floor leader Park Jie-won to share leadership.

First in line was Moon Yong-shik, who heads the DUP’s Internet communication committee.

“Instead of seeking a new breakthrough upon the general election failure, those responsible for the defeat are once again engaging in colluding and sharing power among the factions,” Moon said in an apparent shot at Lee and Park.

“I will mobilize my experience and knowhow to the fullest to transform the DUP into a party that is supported by those from their 20s to their 40s to win the presidential election,” Moon said at a press conference at the National Assembly.

Second-term lawmaker Cho Jeong-sik was next, warning against the slated national convention turning into a factional rivalry for power.

“The DUP is at a crossroads between repeating its error of the general elections defeat, and achieving administrative change by creating new hope through reform and personnel revamp,” Cho said.

Former DUP spokesman and lawmaker-elect Woo Sang-ho also declared his bid by touching up on factionalist politics.

“The DUP is currently suffering from politics centered around cliques … (I will help) the party win the next administration by recovering our dynamics through a leadership change,” Woo said.

Upon reports of the back-door deal between Lee Hae-chan and Park Jie-won, internal criticism had increased over the attempt to share power among the senior members. Park is considered a member representing the old Democratic Party faction, while Lee is a key member leading the DUP’s mainstream faction loyal to the late President Roh Moo-hyun.

Park’s win was seen as signaling the party’s desire to seek a bond between the pro-Roh faction and the DP group.

Lee Hae-chan is scheduled to announce his bid on Monday. Others include former floor leader Kim Han-gil and Rep. Kang Gi-jung.

If the lineup gets too crowded, the party plans to pick nine finalists through a cut-off on Wednesday.

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