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Spurned by party, Park loyalists walk out of GNP

Published: 19 Mar. 2008, 22:17

Suh Chung-won, a former Grand National Party chairman who was eliminated from party nominations in the April legislative elections, along with other former GNP lawmakers, announced yesterday that they are joining the Future Korea Party and changing the party name to Pro-Park United. By Cho Yong-chul

A group of incumbent lawmakers excluded from running for re-election under the Grand National Party banner said yesterday they will run in a new party named after Park Geun-hye.
The lawmakers said they were ousted from their party for supporting Park, the GNP’s former chairwoman who has battled for power in the party with President Lee Myung-bak. A total of 14 lawmakers who supported Park’s bid for the party’s presidential nomination last fall, when she narrowly lost to Lee in the primary, did not get selected as GNP candidates.
“The ‘Pro-Park United’ coalition will consist of comrades who were cruelly punished by the party for supporting Park,” said Suh Chung-won, who played a key role in Park’s primary campaign against Lee last year.
Yesterday, Suh and another GNP lawmaker, Hong Sa-duk, walked out of the Grand National Party to join the minority Future Korea Party. But in a press conference, Suh said they will change the party’s name to “Pro-Park United,” with Suh as head of the party.
The election watchdog, however, is not sure whether they should be allowed to go ahead.
“There has never been such a case [of a political party named after an individual] so it is under deliberation at the moment,” said Ahn Hyo-soo, of the National Election Commission. He said the group had sent the commission a written inquiry asking whether they can use the name, but they will have to wait at least until tomorrow for an answer.
By law, a political party cannot use a similar name to one that’s already in use. But there is no law that prohibits a party from using a person’s name. “There is no reason why we can’t use the name,” Suh said. “It shows well the kind of political stance we have. If we can’t use it, we see that as another instance of political oppression.”
What does Park think?
While she did not make an official comment, Suh said he and his group of about 20 have not asked Park for her opinion yet because it was a “matter of their own business.”
“We will strictly limit the number of people who can join our alliance by choosing only those who worked in Park’s camp during the primaries and who have a high chance of winning in the elections,” Suh said.
Several others who weren’t chosen to run again by the GNP, including three-term lawmaker Kim Moo-sung, announced they will run in the April elections as independents.

By Lee Min-a Staff Reporter [[email protected]]