Political turmoil between Cheong Wa Dae and Saenuri Chairman Kim Moo-sung

Political turmoil between Cheong Wa Dae and Saenuri Chairman Kim Moo-sung. March. 25, 2016 07:55. by 장택동 기자will71@donga.com.

The ruling Saenuri Party’s Chairman Kim Moo-sung has announced on Thursday that he would not confirm the nominations for five contentious constituencies and the presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae was furious about the decision, describing it as a “headlong challenge to President Park Geun-hye.”

When Chairman Kim has been lingering on making nomination decision, the presidential office has predicted that he would stage a “loyal seal strike” without backing off. Since January when Kim made an indirect attack to President Park by making a “person of power” comment, the tension between the two has intensified. Chairman Kim’s “silent protest” for 25 days during nomination process was taken as an expression of complaint against President Park as well.

When Kim raised his voice over the nomination, however, political circles seem to be thrown into turmoil. “Chairman Kim is employing 'brinkmanship tactic' against the president. Is it a war that he wants?” a Cheong Wa Dae adviser criticized.

Cheong Wa Dae sees that Chairman Kim has chosen to say goodbye to President Park in an effort to make a move to the next presidential election. “Chairman Kim appears to delivering a message, 'Let’s go our separate way,' but the timing is perplexing. Does the party chairman want to give up the general elections immediately before the election day?” sources from the presidential office condemned. “The argument over former floor leader Yoo Seung-min had dragged on for days and now it’s chairman Kim?”

Of the five constituencies, Dalseong district in Daegu, in particular, is a “political hometown” for President Park where she had been elected from the 15 general elections to 18th general elections. During the local elections in 2010, she had stayed there to focus on the election for Dalseong governor.

When Choo Kyung-ho, former policy coordinating minister at the prime minister's office who is called a loyalist to President Park, announced his bid to this election, incumbent lawmaker Lee Jong-jin gave up his bid. People say that Lee has decided to do so as he read President Park’s mind. “Chairman Kim is contending that the ruling party should go without any candidates for the constituency which President Park shows the strongest attachment. How should Cheong Wa Dae take this?” another adviser from the office asked back.