[EDITORIALS]'Our policy is to win'

Politicians packing their bags to look for a new party only for the sake of backing a winner are an increasingly common sight these days. The pace is almost dizzying.

With the launching of Chung Mong-joon's new party, National Unity 21, the noise of demolition in the Millennium Democratic Party is growing louder day by day. Many politicians who migrate sniff the breeze before deciding on a new party, and the four-party coalition of Chung Mong-joon, dissident MDP members, the United Liberal Democrats and Lee Han-dong is a good example of how Korean politics works.

Some voters oppose both Lee Hoi-chang and Roh Moo-hyun, the current major party candidates, so a case can be made for a new party of national reconciliation and future vision. But when you look at the past records and political orientation of those gathering in the new party, you wonder how they even manage to speak to one another. Political identity? Their views on policies and the role of government, which must have some similarities to draw up a political platform, are very different. Their only common point is that they are all looking for a sunny spot where they can bask in the glow of backing a winner and reaping the spoils after that.

The central figure in the four-party coalition, Chung Mong-joon, has changed his tune. He told the MDP lawmakers Jeon Yong-hak and Lee One-ku, when they joined the Grand National Party Tuesday, "Betrayal ruins politics." One day later, however, he said, "It is not proper to criticize the realignment of politicians as a betrayal because defections abound in our politics." Then he joined the game of luring legislators to him.

National Unity 21 plans to name Chung Mong-joon as a "unity candidate." We will have to hear Mr. Chung's answers to questions like "Why is the four-party coalition necessary?" and "Why should you be the president?" His pledges of political reform have faded; he is seeking numbers, not policy goals. Mr. Chung, what is your political vision for Korea?