Left unity tarnished by DP’s internal feud

The main opposition Democratic Party finally confirmed its unification with other liberal groups late on Sunday but faces in-party feuding and a possible legal dispute over the voting process.

The party held a provisional national convention Sunday to confirm the plan to merge with the civic group-based Citizen Integration Party and integrate left-wing forces including the Korea Federation of Trade Unions.

The results of the vote were delayed for hours amid violent protests against consolidation and a dispute over the voting quorum, but the party’s leadership concluded that the process was sound and resolved to kick off an inter-party merger committee.

Insults and physical violence marred the convention at Jamsil Gymnasium, where the vote took place, especially after the final announcement.

Delegates against the party’s consolidation plan pledged to take legal action as early as Tuesday, demanding that the court nullify the DP’s interpretation over the voting quorum.

According to the party constitution, a resolution is adopted through a majority vote by 50 percent or more of its delegates present.

A total of 5,820 delegates, more than the minimum quorum of 5,282, showed up at the convention, but only 5,081 cast votes.

The dissenters not only criticized the voting process, but also claimed that an inter-party merger posed a threat to the DP’s political identity.

“The situation was controversial but the party’s internal affairs committee holds the final authority to judge the domestic rules,” said spokesperson Rep. Lee Yong-sub.

Party chairman Rep. Sohn Hak-kyu, who led consolidation talks, once again stressed the need for left-wing unity, but did so in a cautious manner.

“Sunday’s convention explicitly showed to us all why the DP is to undergo immediate changes,” he said at the party’s Supreme Council meeting Monday.

“Unity is our top priority and we must not fear change.”

Former floor leader and aspiring chairman Rep. Park Jie-won, who clashed with Sohn over the unity plan, disapproved of the process but nevertheless pledged to abide by the party’s decision.

“I will not take any legal action,” he said in a radio interview Monday.

This largely came in response to accusations that his consistent opposition to Sohn’s unity plan incited the violent backlash, especially considering Park’s influential position within the party.

The merger committee held its first meeting Monday but several of the seven members did not attend, in protest of the national convention results.

Should the DP and the CIP unify, the resulting party will have over 2 million members.

The consolidation would also represent the union of the current DP and the pro-Roh Moo-hyun figures of the CIP, who have long stayed away from the liberal camp.

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