MDP takes off the gloves

A new conflict flared Friday between the leading presidential candidates of the ruling Millennium Democratic Party after a contender, Roh Moo-hyun, called for a party shakeup. An adviser to Rhee In-je, a now somewhat shaky favorite to win the nomination, accused Mr. Roh of having "influence behind the curtains" in his call and demanded that the "foreman" speak up. A rumor of unknown provenance claims that President Kim Dae-jung has broken his promise of political neutrality to try to tip the MDP primary elections to Mr. Roh.

The Rhee adviser also labeled Mr. Roh's platform as "too radical." Mr. Roh said this week that he would rebuild the party structure should he win the nomination. That, in Korea, is often a code word for breaking up a party and forming a new one more to a leader's liking.

In a news conference Friday, Mr. Rhee's adviser, Kim Yun-su, said, "Rebuilding the party structure would mean breaking up the party, so why is the party remaining silent?" Mr. Kim said that Mr. Rhee would announce on Sunday the names and the scenario he suspected were behind Mr. Roh's call for party restructuring. The primary election in Gangwon province will be held in Chuncheon, the provincial capital, on Sunday.

Sources close to Mr. Rhee also said the candidate would make an "important announcement" should alleged support by the president to Mr. Roh continue.

Mr. Kim added, "Mr. Roh tends to run to the extreme and radical, such as his support for the total abolition of the National Security Law and for unconditional aid to North Korea. He should be a candidate for the Democratic Labor Party rather than the Millennium Democratic Party." Mr. Roh has called rhetorically for Mr. Rhee to be a candidate for the opposition Grand National Party's nomination.

The Roh camp said talk of a political shakeup was nothing new. "There is no 'influence behind the curtain,' so there is no need to react to this charge," said one Roh staffer. And Mr. Roh is not backing away. "Should I become the party's presidential candidate," he said in a radio interview, "there will not be anything selfish in my efforts to restructure the party."

by Kim Chong-hyuk