South Korean parties bickeringÂ
Published date: 17th Jan1995, Asahi Evening News Paper
View PDFBoth the ruling party and the main opposition party are embroiled in leadership disputes that could lead to party splits. Â
ReuterÂ
SEOUL-South Korea’s main opposition party, locked in intense factional strife, was on the verge of a split Monday with its leader threatening to quit and form a new political group. Â
The battle in the Democratic Party coincided with a worsening factional squabble within the ruling Democratic Liberal Party, whose conservative chairman has been under pressure to quit to pave the way for a major party reform. Â
Democratic Liberal Party Chairman Kim Jong Pil hinted to reporters Sunday he might try to form a new party. Â
“If I ask 1 million supporters of mine across the country to chip in 10,000 won (Â¥1,300) each to organize a new party, they will respond favorably,” he said. Â
The chairman of the opposition Democratic Party, Lee Ki Taek, might quit the party this week and begin preparations to create a new party, an aide told reporters Monday. Â
Lee demanded the Democratic Party hold a national convention next month to introduce a system that will strengthen its grip on the party. But members of a major faction, most of them loyal to former opposition leader Kim Dae Jung, have resisted the move. Â
Kim Dae Jung still has many followers in the Democratic Party although he retired from politics in 1992 when he failed in his fourth bid to become national president. Â
“Chairman Lee thinks negotiations about the national convention are now over and is preparing to make a final decision,” the aide said. Â
“He will probably publicly announce his resignation as party chairman and departure the party around from Wednesday and make preparations to set up a new party,” the aide said. Â
Lee gained the current leadership by a narrow margin at a national convention in 1993 but has failed to control a party whose main policies are decided by a nine-man Supreme Council. Â
Earlier this month, Lee challenged the authority of Kim Dae Jung by urging him to sever ties to the Democratic Party, which outraged Kim’s followers. Â
News reports have said President Kim Young Sam, who heads the faction-ridden Democratic Liberal Party, asked Kim Jong Pil to retire to a back seat when they met secretly last week. Â
Kim Jong Pil has been under pressure from reformists o give up the No. 2 post in he parties to pave the way for an ajar party reform.Â






