An insider's tale: Kim's pals seek continued clout

Members of the Donggyo-dong faction of the Millennium Democratic Party, a group of politicians personally loyal to President Kim, are wondering what comes next. With Mr. Kim's term near its end and presidential candidates flexing their muscles, his old friends are showing signs of restlessness. Two MDP members flew to Hawaii Wednesday to consult with Kwon Rho-kap, a former MDP advisor and a central faction leader who is there for medical treatment. Members of the faction are discussing their fears among themselves, but seem determined not to fade away as a bloc as former President Kim Young-sam's Sangdo-dong faction did after his term in office.

Tensions between the old authority, Kwon Rho-kap, and the rising star in the Donggyo-dong faction, Hahn Hwa-kap, are not making matters clearer. After MDP chairman Kim Joong-kwon resigned in September, Mr. Kwon offered his support to Mr. Hahn if he would agree to drop his presidential ambitions and run for the party's leadership post. Mr. Hahn refused, and as their relations cooled, non-faction members like Representative Han Kwang-ok started gaining strength in the party.

A Donggyo-dong insider hinted that Mr. Kwon is the one being asked to bow out in this clash between a grizzled veteran and a new star of the faction. MDP member Kim Ok-doo, a faction member, has publicly criticized the power struggle between the two men. Mr. Hahn recently suggested that he might indeed consider the party leadership post, but it would be difficult for Mr. Kwon to shake off the ties he has already started forming with non-faction MDP politicians. This, rumors say, is the reason that Mr. Kwon seems to be delaying his return to Korea despite Mr. Hahn's announcement that he wants to meet with Mr. Kwon when his treatment is finished.

In the meantime, Donggyo-dong members can only wait until the two bosses get together to shed some light on what will become of the group.

by Kim Chong-hyuk