First crack in the MDP facade

Representative Ahn Dong-seon, no friend of the Millennium Democratic Party's presidential candidate Roh Moo-hyun, announced Friday that he was leaving the party. Mr. Ahn is expected to be only the first of many legislators to bid farewell.

This was the first defection by a member of the party's delegation in the Assembly. A four-term lawmaker, Mr. Ahn spent most of his political career supporting President Kim, although he was not a member of the so-called Donggyodong faction of legislators personally loyal to the president. Mr. Ahn has been outspoken in his opposition to the candidacy of Mr. Roh.

That comradeship with the president seems over. Mr. Ahn continued to assert Friday that the primary elections that gave Mr. Roh the nomination were the result of Blue House political maneuvering. "That is why the MDP and its candidate cannot win public support," Mr. Ahn said.

"I have served the opposition for the 50 years of my political career, but this party is practically a wreck," Mr. Ahn asserted. He said many MDP lawmakers share his view of Mr. Roh's electability but have not yet made up their minds to leave the party. He said he is willing to join a new party, if Representative Chung Mong-joon, Korea's soccer czar and a possible candidate in December's election, started one. He had supported Representative Rhee In-je in the MDP primaries earlier this year.

Amid the continuing political turmoil, Mr. Chung said Friday he supports the idea of a new party. "Instead of launching an MJ party [referring to his initials], it is appropriate to found a new party together with prominent figures in the National Assembly," he said.

Mr. Chung said he would meet high-profile disaffected politicians like Park Geun-hye, the daughter of President Park Chung Hee. "I am also hearing good advice from the United Liberal Democrats' leader, Kim Jong-pil," he said. "I also have a lot to discuss with Democratic People's Party Chairman Kim Yoon-whan."

Former Prime Minister Lee Han-dong and Representative Rhee In-je, who lost to Mr. Roh in the party primaries, joined a group of disaffected MDP legislators who said Friday they would form a new party. The group also demanded that Mr. Roh and the MDP leadership step down.

Watching his nomination lose more value than the Dow Jones index, Mr. Roh flatly rejected the demand to give up his presidential bid. He likened Mr. Ahn's departure to going on a diet to improve one's health.

by Lee Jung-min