GNP’s Hong hints at resignation

The ruling Grand National Party, seeking renewal ahead of general and presidential elections next year, faced a possible shift in leadership from the current chairman Rep. Hong Joon-pyo to presidential potential Rep. Park Geun-hye.

If the power shift takes place, the ruling party is expected to undergo a fundamental restructuring, which may also affect next year’s big political races.

“I am ready to step down from the chairman post, should it be the will of the party members,” said the party leader Rep. Hong Joon-pyo in the party’s renewal forum on Tuesday.

Still, he pledged to deal with pending issues such as changing the party’s nomination system for next year’s general election.

Hong’s words came in response to in-party voices calling for former chairwoman Rep. Park Geun-hye to return to the leadership post.

Park has so far kept her distance from the party’s leadership, based on the rules that presidential candidates are not to take party posts within a year of an election.

Reform-inclined members, however, recently argued that the current leadership should be replaced in order to achieve the party’s renewal and that Park is the only alternative to Hong.

“It is irrational to hold on to the current system just because there is no alternative,” said Rep. Chung Doo-un, a leading reform supporter.

“People will not believe in the party’s sincerity unless the leadership steps down and the party starts anew.”

He also urged Rep. Park to demonstrate her influence in the parliamentary election next April before challenging the presidency later in the year.

Rep. Chung Mong-joon, a Supreme Council member and former chairman, also claimed that a new system is needed in order to discuss reform.

Chung is considered a potential rival to Rep. Park in the presidential race.

Rep. Won Hee-ryong, another reformist, even suggested that the GNP should be disbanded and a new party formed to gain an upper hand against rivals such as professor Ahn Cheol-soo’s potential new party.

However, Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun, a close aide to the former chairwoman, dismissed speculation that Park may resume the party’s chairmanship.

“It is inappropriate for Rep. Park to fight within the party’s boundaries, while her liberal potential rival professor Ahn is expanding his influence in the political arena,” he told reporters after the forum.

Park refrained from remarking on the issue of her return to the party leadership.

Despite controversy over who should take the leadership, party members nevertheless reached a general consensus that the GNP will shake off its alignment with the Lee Myung-bak administration’s policies.

Rep. Hong requested Sunday that the president expand the welfare budget for ordinary citizens and levy heavier taxes for the top-income bracket, reflecting Park’s policy lines and the demands of the reformist members.

“We have to redefine the concept of conservatism and follow it, despite the opposition from Cheong Wa Dae,” said Rep. Kim Sung-tae.

The GNP is to hold a three-way meeting with the government and the presidential office within the week in order to deliver the results of Tuesday’s discussions, officials said.

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