ID :
211378
Wed, 10/05/2011 - 13:29
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Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/211378
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(Yonhap Editorial) Political parties should undergo bold reforms
SEOUL, Oct. 5 (Yonhap) -- The leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) pledged on Tuesday to step down to take responsibility for his party's pick for Seoul mayor losing to an independent in a primary-type election to pick a unified opposition candidate. Rep. Sohn Hak-kyu, however, withdrew his pledge to resign the next day after party members demanded he remain in charge to lead efforts to defeat the ruling party in this month's local by-elections.
In Monday's showdown, DP's two-time lawmaker Park Young-sun lost to Park Won-soon, a lawyer-turned-activist with no party affiliation. Park's victory dealt a blow to the liberal party because now it cannot field a candidate in the crucial election slated for Oct. 26, which is regarded as a bellwether for next year's parliamentary and presidential elections.
It also showed growing discontent among young voters toward the left-leaning party with a 65-year-old history. The DP should realize the unprecedented exodus of young voters from the party stems from its failure to figure out young people's expectations and desires and also how to communicate with young people in their 20s and 30s. The country's youth had expected the opposition party to suggest solutions for such key issues as reduction of college tuition fees, high unemployment among young people and ever-expanding social polarization.
The DP is advised to take this situation as a chance to make drastic reforms by changing the entire shape of the party except for the party's name.
The ruling Grand National Party is not very different from the opposition party and is also urged to implement thorough reforms. The GNP has called the opposition camp's process of picking a unified mayoral candidate as a "political show." However, the GNP failed to hold similar event to pick a unified candidate from the conservative bloc. A conservative candidate for the post from outside the party dropped out of the primary, clinching the party's nomination for Rep. Na Kyung-won.
Lee Seog-yeon, a 57-year-old lawyer, had been considered as a potential contender against Park Won-soon, the front-runner in the liberal bloc, but announced on Sept. 28 he has decided to pull out of the race due to his lackluster poll numbers and conflicts over his campaign vision among supporters. Lee had received offers from the GNP to join the party's primary, but he said he would run without any party affiliation.
If the GNP's candidate Na loses to Park Won-soon in the Seoul mayoral election, the aftermath would be enormous. The party would need to make tremendous efforts to make fundamental reforms.
If the ruling or opposition parties fail to make proper reforms, it would accelerate the waning of party politics in South Korea. If the existing political parties fail to communicate with voters, the chances of victory for candidates with no political party affiliation or representing civil organizations would become greater in the parliamentary and presidential elections next year.
The political parties should undergo reforms to restore party politics in South Korea.
(END)
In Monday's showdown, DP's two-time lawmaker Park Young-sun lost to Park Won-soon, a lawyer-turned-activist with no party affiliation. Park's victory dealt a blow to the liberal party because now it cannot field a candidate in the crucial election slated for Oct. 26, which is regarded as a bellwether for next year's parliamentary and presidential elections.
It also showed growing discontent among young voters toward the left-leaning party with a 65-year-old history. The DP should realize the unprecedented exodus of young voters from the party stems from its failure to figure out young people's expectations and desires and also how to communicate with young people in their 20s and 30s. The country's youth had expected the opposition party to suggest solutions for such key issues as reduction of college tuition fees, high unemployment among young people and ever-expanding social polarization.
The DP is advised to take this situation as a chance to make drastic reforms by changing the entire shape of the party except for the party's name.
The ruling Grand National Party is not very different from the opposition party and is also urged to implement thorough reforms. The GNP has called the opposition camp's process of picking a unified mayoral candidate as a "political show." However, the GNP failed to hold similar event to pick a unified candidate from the conservative bloc. A conservative candidate for the post from outside the party dropped out of the primary, clinching the party's nomination for Rep. Na Kyung-won.
Lee Seog-yeon, a 57-year-old lawyer, had been considered as a potential contender against Park Won-soon, the front-runner in the liberal bloc, but announced on Sept. 28 he has decided to pull out of the race due to his lackluster poll numbers and conflicts over his campaign vision among supporters. Lee had received offers from the GNP to join the party's primary, but he said he would run without any party affiliation.
If the GNP's candidate Na loses to Park Won-soon in the Seoul mayoral election, the aftermath would be enormous. The party would need to make tremendous efforts to make fundamental reforms.
If the ruling or opposition parties fail to make proper reforms, it would accelerate the waning of party politics in South Korea. If the existing political parties fail to communicate with voters, the chances of victory for candidates with no political party affiliation or representing civil organizations would become greater in the parliamentary and presidential elections next year.
The political parties should undergo reforms to restore party politics in South Korea.
(END)
