Lee’s hardline stance may alienate moderate voters, experts say


With reputed hardliner Lee Hae-chan taking the helm, the main opposition Democratic United Party is expected to increase its offensive against the ruling camp in the lead up to the December presidential election.

The former prime minister grabbed the party’s chairmanship in Saturday’s national convention, beating dovish rival Rep. Kim Han-gill.

The victory in the cliffhanger race may be attributable to his uncompromising response to the ruling Saenuri Party’s ideological attacks, his aides said.

“I shall stand up firmly against the McCarthyite attacks of the ruling Saenuri Party and (its presidential frontrunner) Park Geun-hye,” said Lee in his address after the election on Saturday.

The opposition camp had recently been plagued by accusations of having sympathies for the North Korean regime, especially after DUP lawmaker Rep. Lim Su-kyung came under fire for making insulting remarks about North Korean defectors and an activist-turned-lawmaker.

The Saenuri Party repeatedly demanded that the qualifications of lawmakers suspected of being pro-communist be reevaluated.

Rep. Lee, however, squarely fired back calling the party “neo-McCarthyites.”

This was in clear contrast to that of his rival Kim, who merely said that Lim’s remarks were inappropriate.

Lee’s hot temper drew attention when he abruptly hung up during a live radio interview last week, when the anchor bombarded him with questions on North Korean human rights instead of discussing the upcoming national convention.

“Despite controversies, his stern action won the support of party members who were disturbed by the Saenuri’s ideology fights,” said Lee’s aide.

“Lee’s charismatic leadership proved him to be the right party chief ahead of the presidential election.”

The new chairperson is thus predicted to initiate intensive attacks against the current Lee Myung-bak administration and the ruling party.

His partner and party floor leader Rep. Park is also known for his biting comments, especially against the Saenuri’s effective chief Park Geun-hye.

Some, however, pointed out that Lee’s belligerent nature could be a double-edged sword.

“Lee’s aggressive stance may have worked in condemning the right-wing or its ideological attacks, but may also push away moderate voters,” said Shin Yul, a politics professor at Myungji University.

Others expressed concerns that Lee’s active “anti-McCarthyite” responses may take away the public’s attention from other key issues such as welfare and labor.

Another task the new chairman has to face up to in the December race is partisan conflict.

Lee’s victory is widely expected to boost the reputation of Moon Jae-in, a lifetime aide to late President Roh Moo-hyun and the party’s top-ranking presidential hopeful.

Moon earlier advocated the Lee-Park alliance when the duo came under fire for political collusion.

However, Lee is now left to overcome the pro-Roh factional image in order to display his leadership.

“The DUP, in order to renew itself and impress the people before the presidential election, should first overcome its decades-long factional disputes,” said Rep. Kim who ended up second in the leadership race.

The Lee leadership also hurried to kick off the presidential primary schedule.

“We should wrap up the in-party primary and also unify with non-party (presidential) candidates as soon as possible,” Lee said.

While Moon is still in the lead as presidential frontrunner, he is followed by South Gyeongsang Governor Kim Doo-kwan, senior party advisers Sohn Hak-kyu and Chung Dong-young, and former party chief Chung Sye-kyun.

Professor Ahn Cheol-soo, who has so far remained evasive about his political plans, is considered a potential candidate from outside the party and a threat to all DUP contestants.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)