New conservative party in the making

Park Se-il moves to form a center-right political party ahead of next year’s elections


Amid moves to create alternative political parties ahead of general elections next year, a former right-wing lawmaker seeks to form a new party embracing both conservatives and moderate liberals.

Park Se-il, president of the Hansun Foundation, who has spoken for right wing conservatives and often raised issues about North Korean human rights, drew attention last week by saying that he was preparing to create a new political party within this year.

“I dream of a party which may even embrace Rep. Park Geun-hye of the ruling Grand National Party and Rep. Sohn Hak-kyu of the main opposition Democratic Party,” Park said Tuesday during his lecturing tour in Busan.

His move is based on a view that voters, especially the younger generation, distrust the rivalry between existing conservative and liberal parties.

In the Oct. 26 by-election for Seoul mayor, civic activist and independent Park Won-soon, who beat the candidate of the main opposition Democratic Party in a battle for nomination but did not join the party, defeated the GNP candidate.

Most experts see the mayor’s election as an expression by younger voters of disenchantment with established politics, where party interests are placed before those of the public, particularly those in their 20s to 40s.

Though Park Se-il’s ideals are largely conservative and involve cooperation with right-wing figures such as Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Moon-soo, he hinted at engaging professor Ahn Cheol-soo and others from the left of center. Ahn endorsed Park Won-soon, and has attracted media attention as a possible candidate in next year’s presidential race.

“My idea is not just about conservatism versus liberalism, but rather concerns creating a forum for rationalists who worry about established politics,” the Hansun Foundation chief said.

He denies speculation that his main intention is to counter the GNP presidential aspirant Rep. Park Geun-hye. The former presidential secretary and GNP lawmaker said his decision came out of a perception that the right-wing camp needs fundamental innovation to secure conservative support before the general and presidential elections next year.

However, his move to get liberals involved faces rough sailing. It may embarrass conservative right wingers who have supported his push for a new party.

Park’s new party plan also triggered criticism from those ruling party lawmakers, who have been seeking to renew the existing party since the Seoul mayoral by-election.

“Park proved himself to be an ultra-rightist by opposing a welfare policy to provide free school meals and also has close ties mostly with conservative leaders,” said Rep. Lee Jung-hyun, a close aide to Rep. Park Geun-hye.

“It is hard to believe that his pledge to form a moderate new party may be genuine.”

Some suspect that Park’s plan was motivated by Cheong Wa Dae, which intended to curb Rep. Park’s political influence.

Despite backlash from within the GNP, it is speculated that a considerable number of lawmakers, especially the pro-Lee Myung-bak members, will likely consider migrating to the new party.

The pro-Lee group has faced various obstacles this year as it gave away the party’s leading posts to the pro-Park Geun-hye faction and others. It once again faltered as its core member Na Kyung-won lost the Seoul mayoral by-election.

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