(EDITORIAL from the Korea Herald on Aug. 29)

Future of opposition

Democratic Party Chairman Chung Sye-kyun announced on Thursday his party would
unconditionally return to the business of lawmaking at the National Assembly. But
the move invited scorn from critics for the reversal of the issuance of mass
resignations.

Nevertheless, the about face - which borrowed an excuse from the
death of former president Kim Dae-jung - is a positive, welcome development.
Chung vowed his party would mount "parallel struggles" inside and outside the
legislature even after its members attend the regular Assembly session beginning
Sept. 1. Yet it is doubtful that the DP can share any significant amount of its
energy to continue street protests if it is to engage itself in the many heavy
tasks waiting at parliament.
First and foremost is the 2010 budget deliberation, which should examine the
first installments for the four rivers development, the trademark project of
President Lee Myung-bak. Many fear implementation of the projects would take away
cash from badly-needed welfare programs. And there are the long delayed,
controversial bills on irregular workers and new administrative cities, in
addition to the president's newly conceived political and administrative reform
plans. Still hot are the media laws which the ruling party passed unilaterally
last month, setting off the opposition parties' extreme protests including the
reversed mass resignations.
DP leaders assert that the late Kim left his will to the party through his close
aides just before he was hospitalized in early July. Kim urged the party to
protect democracy, promote the grassroots economy and develop inter-Korean
relations. To carry out these tasks, the opposition lawmakers are returning to
the legislature, tearing up their letters of resignation they had given the party
chairman.
Kim's reported will provided the solemn cause for the opposition party to end its
street actions, but the DP leaders also had the uncomfortable realization that
their media law protests were not gaining public support. And, quite
embarrassingly, President Lee was actually reaping more from the death of the
former president as he quickly seized the opportunity to emphasize social
integration and reconciliation from nationwide mourning.
Coming on the heels of his recent shift of focus to the welfare of the
underprivileged, the president's call for tolerance and compromise among
conflicting groups sharply raised his approval rating. Public endorsement of the
Democratic Party - which had risen slightly following the suicide of former
president Roh Moo-hyun in May - did not show any significant sign of ascent
despite the large crowds of mourners for Kim Dae-jung.
The DP's awareness of the need to change course on strategy and philosophy comes
piteously when its members are feeling a deep void from the loss of two former
presidents, who were their ideological anchors. As they try to regain enough
strength to take on a resurgent ruling party, they are in need of clear, strong
leadership. That, however, is not in sight at the moment.
A move to create a new party has been brought forward by former loyalists of the
late Roh while another movement is in the offing to broaden the base of the DP
with the inclusion of former pro-democracy fighters. In the meantime, party chair
Chung Sye-kyun, 2007 presidential candidate Chung Dong-young, other presidential
contenders Sohn Hak-kyu and Kim Geun-tae, and Kim Dae-jung's proteges Han Hwa-kap
and Park Jie-won are jockeying for positions looking forward to the 2012
elections.
The death of "DJ" closed an important chapter in our history and marks the
beginning of a new one in which we hope parties will engage in more a more
civilized brand of politics, absorbing all national issues in democratic debates
in the National Assembly.
(END)