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Rep. Hwang Woo-yea (second from left), floor leader of the ruling Grand National Party, speaks in a meeting of party lawmakers on Tuesday morning. (Yang Dong-chul/The Korea Herald) |
The Grand National Party needs to replace its senior lawmakers with political rookies who can appeal to young voters to win in next April’s general election, the party’s policy think tank said.
The Youido Institute analyzed the party’s crushing defeat in last month’s Seoul mayoral by-election and suggested new strategies to win the hearts of voters in their 20s and 30s, according to officials Tuesday.
The absentee voting results, which were delivered to the National Election Commission prior to the Oct. 26 by-election, had the GNP’s Na Kyung-won ahead of her liberal rival Park Won-soon, with 54.7 percent to 43.7 percent.
This was seen as reflecting the influence of allegations that Park forged his family relation registration and academic history. The allegations were made before Na faced the blame for frequenting a luxurious skin care clinic, according to the report.
The institute also concluded that the party’s defeat in the race was more attributable to Na’s lack of competitiveness and that the party may regain young voters’ support if it comes up with a strategy and candidates compatible with their values.
Park managed to rake in 98 percent of the votes from those who voted for liberal candidates in last year’s June local election. Na, however, only garnered 86.5 percent of the entire voter turnout for Seoul City’s free school meal plebiscite in August, failing to attract potential conservative votes, the report said.
“The key strategy in next year’s general election is to recruit appropriate figures who may appeal to the public,” said Rep. Chung Doo-un, head of the institute.
“For this, we need to replace many of the current party lawmakers with competitive new faces.”
Chung referred to past elections in which senior lawmakers stepped down to give way to junior members or new figures.
“A strong resolve is needed for the party to overcome its current crisis.”
Other party members suggested stronger measures in order to renew the party’s human resources.
“The general election is a quadrennial reshuffle and thus should reflect as many changes as possible,” said former party chairman Rep. Chung Mong-joon in a radio interview on Tuesday.
Gyeonggi Governor Kim Moon-soo, one of the party’s presidential hopefuls, urged the party to reduce the number of current lawmakers from Seoul and the Youngnam, or Gyeongsang, regions, with new faces, in the nomination process.
His call caused a backlash among those elected in the corresponding constituencies, which have traditionally been in favor of the conservative camp.
Some also pointed out that the spirit of the party should not be changed unless the reshuffle truly reflects the aspirations of the public, especially of the young generation, for reform in established politics.
“The party may not dodge its current crisis just by changing some of its members,” said Rep. Kim Song-sik, one of the leading reform-inclined members of the party.
“In addition to recruiting young reformative figures, the party leadership also needs to open its ears and listen carefully to their voices.”
The GNP, though it put off its comprehensive renewal plan until after the U.S.-Korea free trade bill ratification, is to continue its weekly meeting to brainstorm renovation strategies, officials said.
By Bae Hyun-jung (
tellme@heraldcorp.com)
