[Opinion] Reform Parties, Kick out Political Bums

A venture businessman recently told me he has no interest in politics. “I wish to see no more the Millennium Democratic Party, and the Grand National Party should have gone long ago.”

In fact, GNP is enjoying a higher approval rating. And MDP, calling themselves a ‘ruling minority,’ has failed to deal with national governance. Out of desperation, they are proposing constitutional amendment and nomination of a new presidential candidate. The venture CEO in his early 40s, however, was apparently more critical of GNP.

The two rival parties have pushed for party reforms electing presidential candidates through public votes and introducing group leader systems. But the rub is that they came with little substances.

While emphasizing that he was the first chairman who was not appointed by the President, the National Assembly chairman elect Park Kwan-yong made a courtesy visit to GNP presidential candidate before doing anything else. This shows well that old practices still live on despite the reforms.

Dictatorship is more effective than democracy in its transition. GNP looks more united and organized than MDP, where we see a discord between the party president and the President and a boisterous nomination process of parliamentary candidates. Reflecting on the current government’s total failure, however, the unity and teamwork becomes a cause of concern. The root of the government’s failure traces back to DJ’s reign in his party. Every member was eager to prove his loyalty, and corruptions began to thrive.

Still, many MDP supporters have not given up their hope on the party. And that’s not just because the party is a successor of the spirit of Kwangju on April 19. They believe that the future is bright since the imperial figure has gone now. MDP, however, continues to fumble sticking to such ideas as forming a new party and breaking up with Kim.

Before every election, President leaves his party and the party has a new name. It’s nothing new and voters are sick and tired of the old trick. Former President Kim Young-sam departed and his party changed its name before the last presidential election. But the public punished GNP. Despite President Kim’s departure, people again gave their verdict to MDP.

Some criticize that we vote for individual candidates rather than political parties, but it is changing. Now the public sees GNP as the successor of the former ruling force and MDP as the former opposition. Facing more politically enlightened people, MDP will be judged for what they have done.

Then, do we have to give up hopes on MDP? Not necessarily. Voting is an investment in the future. If a political party becomes more future-oriented, people will become less mindful of its past. If MDP successfully builds up a new system, it will gain public confidence as a party that is larger than the President.

MDP is reeling because it has yet to find a new leading force after its breakup with DJ. They must not seek to establish another unchallenged leadership centering on the presidential candidate. What they have to do is to democratize the party to go beyond the current transitional period.

Key to the reform is to replace those political bums with volunteer participants ready to commit themselves. If it is impossible to set a whole new scene, they must add a new tone at least. To do so, they must involve on-site members in decision-making process while letting go the heads of local headquarters. Local heads and council members must be elected by run-of-the-mill members, and serve as mediators who collect and represent public opinions. They must be banned from rerunning for office.

Just as the red devil fever has led to the popularity of K League, MDP will be able to win back the public support it witnessed through the nomination of its presidential candidate. If the party fails to restore its competitiveness, people will be watching a boring match knowing what the result will be. People will display their passion for politics if the rivalry between the two parties is an exciting match. Remember people expect to see politics that goes beyond the reality.

Cho Ki-sook (politics professor at Ewha Graduate School of International Studies)

couple6@donga.com