Liberals unite for upcoming election
Published: 17 Oct. 2009, 07:00
Influential liberal activists have decided to participate in real-life Korean politics, announcing plans to form an alliance and launch a new political experiment aimed at winning seats during next year’s local elections.
Tentatively titled “Hopes and Alternatives,” the alliance of 120 liberal civic activists, scholars and religious leaders will formally kick off next week.
Among members are Park Won-soon, a lawyer and the executive director of Hope Institute, Seoul National University Honorary Professor Paik Nak-chung and Lawyers for a Democratic Society Chairman Baek Seung-heon.
“Political parties have failed to present meaningful polices,” said Park said in a press conference on Thursday. “We will start a new political movement for next year’s local elections.”
Local autonomous government heads and regional council members will be selected during April elections.
One of the key tasks to be promoted by the liberal alliance will be a “positive” campaign for the elections.
“It will be different from what we did in the 2000 legislative election [when we] blacklisted unfit candidates,” Park said.
He said liberals will make public their recommendations of capable candidates and good policies.
Following the empowerment of nongovernmental groups in the 1990s, an alliance of more than 400 civic and social activist groups blacklisted 86 candidates for the 2000 legislative election.
The negative campaign proved to be effective when 59 of those listed were defeated.
“This time, we are trying to create a system to endorse qualified candidates through fair reviews.” Park said. “We also want to link small think tanks with good candidates. Cooperating with an existing political party is also a possibility.”
“This is not a political movement to defeat the Grand National Party, and we do not agree with all opposition parties,” Park said.
While Park made clear that he will not run as a candidate, other members of the alliance left the door open, saying that their decisions will depend on how the situation evolves.
Park, one of the country’s most popular civic lawyers, had served as the secretary general of the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy. A native of South Gyeongsang, Park had been called a potential presidential candidate during the Roh Moo-hyun administration because of his popularity and liberal ideas.
Speculation has spread in the political arena over the past weeks that Park may become a possible candidate for Seoul mayor.
The preparatory committee for Hopes and Alternatives will select five joint operation committee heads and hold an official launching ceremony at the Seoul’s Jogye Temple on Monday.
By Ser Myo-ja [[email protected]]
Tentatively titled “Hopes and Alternatives,” the alliance of 120 liberal civic activists, scholars and religious leaders will formally kick off next week.
Among members are Park Won-soon, a lawyer and the executive director of Hope Institute, Seoul National University Honorary Professor Paik Nak-chung and Lawyers for a Democratic Society Chairman Baek Seung-heon.
“Political parties have failed to present meaningful polices,” said Park said in a press conference on Thursday. “We will start a new political movement for next year’s local elections.”
Local autonomous government heads and regional council members will be selected during April elections.
One of the key tasks to be promoted by the liberal alliance will be a “positive” campaign for the elections.
“It will be different from what we did in the 2000 legislative election [when we] blacklisted unfit candidates,” Park said.
He said liberals will make public their recommendations of capable candidates and good policies.
Following the empowerment of nongovernmental groups in the 1990s, an alliance of more than 400 civic and social activist groups blacklisted 86 candidates for the 2000 legislative election.
The negative campaign proved to be effective when 59 of those listed were defeated.
“This time, we are trying to create a system to endorse qualified candidates through fair reviews.” Park said. “We also want to link small think tanks with good candidates. Cooperating with an existing political party is also a possibility.”
“This is not a political movement to defeat the Grand National Party, and we do not agree with all opposition parties,” Park said.
While Park made clear that he will not run as a candidate, other members of the alliance left the door open, saying that their decisions will depend on how the situation evolves.
Park, one of the country’s most popular civic lawyers, had served as the secretary general of the People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy. A native of South Gyeongsang, Park had been called a potential presidential candidate during the Roh Moo-hyun administration because of his popularity and liberal ideas.
Speculation has spread in the political arena over the past weeks that Park may become a possible candidate for Seoul mayor.
The preparatory committee for Hopes and Alternatives will select five joint operation committee heads and hold an official launching ceremony at the Seoul’s Jogye Temple on Monday.
By Ser Myo-ja [[email protected]]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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