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Whither Chun Jung-bae?

Posted January. 28, 2015 07:17,   

한국어

Chun Jung-bae, former member of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy, joined the starting ceremony of "Saewoolim" held in southern Seoul on Tuesday. "Saewoolim" is a gathering among people who had shared the same stance with Ahn Cheol-soo, former party co-founder, and is headed by Lee Kye-ahn, former supreme council leader of the party.

Sources say it is uncommon for Chun to attend this ceremony since the party is sensitively paying attention to whether he will leave the party. Chung Dong-young, former party standing advisor, is openly asking Chun to join the new party, tentatively named "People`s Assemblage." The New Politics Alliance for Democracy is concerned that Chun would join the new party and run for a post in Gwangju at the April 29 by-election.

"If Chun runs as independent candidate and win in Gwangju, the leadership of the new party`s head and the existence of the party itself can be in danger," said a party official. Moon Hee-sang, head of the emergency committee of the main opposition party, will have a luncheon meeting with Chun on Friday to dissuade him from leaving the party.

Nevertheless, Chun kept silent while meeting with reporters Tuesday. Yet he said, "Candidate nomination should be pursued through election," which was interpreted as expressing thorny feelings against party leaders who had nominated Kwon Eun-hee instead of him as party candidate for Gwangsan in Gwangju. Chun will join a discussion meeting of the new party in Gwangju on Feb. 5.