Parties Have Different Reactions to Election Results

The Grand National Party is reeling from the shocking results of the by-elections on April 25.

Each of the pro-government main parties, including the Uri Party, which won a seat in the 55 local elections, is claiming victory.

Grand National Party –

Kang Chang-hee and Jeon Yeo-ok, members of the GNP’s supreme council, resigned from their posts to take responsibility for the results.

As GNP floor leader Kim Hyong-o and chief policymaker Jeon Jae-hee expressed their intention to resign at a general meeting, people are waiting to see whether other supreme council members, including Rep. Kang Jae-sup and Lee Jae-oh, will follow suit.

The party is discussing various plans, one of which is the resignation of all party leaders and forming an emergency committee. Another alternative discussed is to conduct overall reforms and a campaign for regeneration through a vote of confidence procedure.

Pro-Government Forces –

Uri Chairman Chung Se-kyun argued at a general meeting, “The victories of forces allied for elections at Muan-Shinan and Seo-gu of Daejeon are seen as a public call for us to join with peace-oriented reformist forces.”

However, some made an argument for disbanding the party after the Uri Party won only one election, saying, “Now, the question is how to dissolve the party.”

The Democratic Party criticized Chung’s remark, saying, “The Uri Party is trying to take away our victory by interpreting the results from a self-centered angle.”

People First Party Co-chairman Shim Dae-pyeong, who won the Seo-eul, Daejeon election, said at a press conference, “I will not join the pro-government integration forces.”

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