Party leader kicks up fuss with 'rats' remark

Main opposition leader Lee Hoi-chang of the Grand National Party is embattled on all fronts these days.

Representative Ha Soon-bong rocked the boat further Thursday when he likened party insurgents to rats at a regional party conference in Chuncheon, Gangwon province.

Mr. Ha, a close aide to Mr. Lee, said those within the party calling for change are like "rats scurrying about when the boat starts to shake." Not only the young legislators, but more established party members as well, reacted to the snipe by calling on Mr. Lee to forsake his leadership of the party if he is nominated as the presidential candidate.

Members of miraeyeondae, an in-house group of first and second-term lawmakers, said Mr. Ha's remark "is where the crisis of our party stems from." Miraeyeondae members said they would push to revamp the party in much the same way younger lawmakers within the ruling Millennium Democratic Party forced the resignation of their boss, President Kim Dae-jung, from party leadership.

Mr. Ha later said that his meaning was misconstrued, and Mr. Lee attempted to reconcile party members by saying that the aide recognizes his mistake. But the damage was done.

Several of the insurgents, notably Representatives Kim Deog-ryong and Hong Sa-duk, are expected to leave the party, taking several other legislators with them, party insiders said.

Mr. Lee put on a brave face Thursday, saying he would work to reunite the party. He faces a tough challenge from a ruling party presidential hopeful, Roh Moo-hyun, who is gaining momentum in the Millennium Democratic Party's primary. Mr. Roh's popularity could even threaten Mr. Lee in the Gyeongsang provinces, his party's traditional stronghold.

In the JoongAng Ilbo poll released Thursday, Mr. Roh led Mr. Lee by 21.4 percent in a simulated presidential race.

by Ko Jung-ae