GNP chairman puts off reform plans

Hong faces backlash from members demanding radical changes to ruling party


The ruling Grand National Party chairman Rep. Hong Joon-pyo on Monday delayed talks for party reform until after the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement’s ratification.

“Efforts to renew the party have now just begun,” said Hong in the party’s Supreme Council meeting.

“Once the imminent FTA talks reach a conclusion, we will hold further in-depth discussion to collect a variety of opinions and then confirm our final guidelines.”

The party leader was expected to present during the meeting his plans to make up for the party’s loss of public support shown in its defeat in last month’s Seoul mayoral race.

His ideas included the abolishment of the party’s headquarters building and the recruitment of political rookies through open auditions.

However, Hong was held back by backlashes from pro-reform members of the party, who claimed that his moves were insufficient to overturn the current situation.

“The so-called reform plans are nowhere near up to the required level,” said Rep. Yoo Seong-min.

“We expect more detailed and fundamental measures which may bring actual changes to the party’s policies and recruitment.”

Rep. Won Hee-ryong, too, claimed that reformative plans will be no more than mere ideas, unless the party leadership first sets an example and renews its fundamentals.

Other influential figures such as former chairman Rep. Chung Mong-joon and policy panel head Rep. Chung Doo-un even hinted earlier that the party’s chairmanship should be handed over from Hong to presidential potential Rep. Park Geun-hye.

By delaying the renewal talks, Hong won himself some time to win over party members but also raised the concern that the discussion may be further delayed due to the dragging FTA debates.

While undergoing internal discord, the GNP demanded in the parliamentary budget committee meeting for a boost in next year’s welfare budgets, which was part of its renewal plan.

The main opposition Democratic Party, though it agreed in the budget increase, remained skeptical over the rival party’s efforts.

“The GNP’s so-called people-friendly plans, such as a tax hike for the wealthy, reinforced regulations for conglomerates, and welfare budget boost, are what we have been calling out for all along,” said the DP spokesperson.

“The GNP will have to do more than just making pledges in order to prove its genuineness.”

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)