Korea Herald, January 23, 2007
Rep. Im Jong-in, a first-term lawmaker, resigned from the Uri Party yesterday in what political observers see as the start of a series of high-profile defections from the governing party in the run-up to the December presidential election.
His departure fueled speculation that other separatists will follow suit in their attempt to form political alliances to confront the opposition Grand National Party in the race.
Im, an outspoken progressive left winger, is the first lawmaker to desert the embattled party.
Announcing his resignation, he slammed the Uri Party for losing its liberal identity and pursuing conservative policies.
"I defected from the Uri Party today. The Uri Party, which has become conservative, cannot represent its supporters - ordinary and middle-class citizens," he said at a news conference.
He opened the possibility of joining with 10 ruling lawmakers, including Rep. Chun Jung-bae, a potential presidential candidate, as well as other progressive forces such as the Democratic Labor Party and civic groups.
"Rep. Chun is a reformist figure. I think he is a crucial leader who will be able to create a political party with me," Im said.
Chun, a former justice minister, signaled that he would defect from the party if the new party plan fails to make progress in the face of opposition from pro-Roh lawmakers.
The majority of ruling lawmakers are moving to create new political groups ahead of presidential race, while Roh loyalists are against the move.
Political observers say the Uri Party is likely to break apart into several groups as those favoring the creation of new groups differ over realignment policies and ideology.
Rhee Mok-hee, one of the Uri leadership members, said the Uri Party is likely to be split into three groups; pro-Roh lawmakers, liberals and conservatives. "The minority of lawmakers will stay in the Uri Party. Among those who leave the party are lawmakers who have reformist and conservative inclinations - they will find it difficult to go along," he said.
Im has harshly criticized the dispatch of troops to Iraq and the possible Korea-U.S. free trade agreement. He has also called for independence from the United States and more engagement with North Korea.
Several prominent lawmakers including Rep. Chung Dong-young and Rep. Yeum Dong-yun also expressed intentions to bolt from the party.
The exodus is likely to quicken if members in the party's central committee fail to revise party membership rules on Jan. 29.
The current leadership is set to convene a meeting of the central committee to go ahead with another amendment, an attempt previously foiled by a court last Friday.
On Friday a Seoul court ruled against the amendment that pro-Roh groups called an attempt to weaken their power. A group of 11 pro-Roh Uri Party members last month filed suit against the new rules that could have given more votes to supporters of a new party at the Feb. 24 general convention.
The court said the current ad-hoc leadership has no authority to amend the party's constitution to change membership regulations.
In June 2006, the party's central committee entrusted its power to amend the constitution to the party's incumbent leadership with the approval from half of the members. However, the court said the party's leadership should have gained consent from more than two thirds of central committee members to amend the constitution.
Chung, the party's largest stakeholder, also warned of mass defections if the revision plan falters.
There has been a flurry of speculation about mass defections after Yeum said that he will quit membership of the Uri in order to speed up efforts to create a new political group.
(hjjin@heraldm.com)
By Jin Hyun-joo
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