Political reform has been one of the main issues of this year’s presidential election from the start, and this political environment has brought significant changes to the Democratic United Party candidate’s camp.

The public’s distrust of local politics and the desire to see fundamental change launched the campaign of Ahn Cheol-soo.

In line with the apparent public demand for change, and with Ahn’s stance on the issue, the DUP and the camp of its candidate Moon Jae-in have been in the grip of political reform. Ahn, a merger with whom the DUP considers essential to beating Saenuri Party’s Park Geun-hye, had initially stated that he would only discuss the merger once “true political reform” had been achieved.

Related developments in Moon’s campaign began in late October when campaign officials with ties to late President Roh Moo-hyun resigned.

On Oct. 21, three key campaign aides who served as presidential secretaries to Roh and six others who were considered to be of the pro-Roh faction quit their campaign posts in an effort to put an end to criticism that pro-Roh individuals were dominating the party and the campaign.

For Moon and the DUP, the large presence of pro-Roh individuals in Moon’s camp and the party has been a subject of contention, and has led to a number of senior members leaving the progressive party.

Rep. Noh Young-min, the chief of Moon’s secretariat, at the time said that his decision was made “in order to accelerate harmony and unity within the party.”

However, critics have pointed out that while political heavyweights with ties to Roh like party chairman Rep. Lee Hae-chan remain in the party, the developments will not be enough to create an image of political reform.

Aware of the need for more drastic measures, the Moon camp’s political reform committee called on all of the DUP’s leaders including the party chairman and floor leader Rep. Park Jie-won to step down.

Following the recommendation from the campaign committee, Rep. Kim Han-gil, who is a member of DUP’s supreme council, stepped down and called on other senior members to follow his lead.

“It may be desirable for the current leadership to put down all authority and step down to enable Moon to reform the DUP without hesitation,” Kim said on Nov. 1 in announcing his decision.

While the party chairman and the floor leader have yet to announce their decisions, Lee is said to be set on relinquishing his post.

By Choi He-suk  (cheesuk@heraldcorp.com)