MDP inner strife deepens

The internal discord of the Millennium Democratic Party worsened Thursday, just a day after the party seemed to have defused conflicts that sprang up after its defeat in last Thursday's local elections. Members of the Jungdo Reform Forum, an in-house association of party members, asked Thursday that Roh Moo-hyun, the party's presidential nominee, and all 12 members of the party's Supreme Council resign. Mr. Roh retained his nomination at a party meeting Wednesday along with Hahn Hwa-kap, the party chairman, and the rest of the leadership council.

Political pundits speculated Thursday that the turmoil could lead the party to a break-up -- a routine process in Korean politics. After his nomination was reaffirmed Wednesday, Mr. Roh said he would create an anti-corruption policy for the party, a move aimed at making the party his own and, at least indirectly, dissociating himself further from the party founder, President Kim Dae-jung.

Most of the forum's 47 members, mostly mid-level or senior Millennium Democrats, laughed at the notion of the party throwing off its ties to the president. They agreed that a dramatic change is needed to save the party. The group's move from being an in-house discussion group to putting very public political pressure on party leadership was seen by most observers as a clear signal of the party's imminent demise.

Most of its members are expected to support Rhee In-je, who lost the presidential nomination to Mr. Roh in the first-ever primary in Korean politics. Mr. Rhee's supporters say he stands a far better chance against Lee Hoi-chang of the Grand National Party.

Meanwhile, the party mainstreamers, most of whom back the Roh-Hahn leadership, are preparing for party restructuring in preparation for the Aug. 8 National Assembly by-elections. They will create a committee for party development and reform that will create Mr. Roh's promised anti-corruption program. Hahn Hwa-kap will chair the committee, which will do an independent investigation into the corruption allegations against President Kim's family.

For now it looks like Mr. Roh's supporters, backed by Mr. Hahn's faction, have the edge in the fight for party dominance. But despite his lack of official ties to the party, President Kim's influence cannot be ignored. Once the party begins its proposed probe into the first family, those loyal to the president could abandon Mr. Roh and Mr. Hahn.

by Kang Min-seok