Right after the local elections, I said that the Korean left would likely unite behind former prime minister Goh Kun.
I was wrong.
From the Korea Times (which I personally think does pretty good political reporting):
`As far as I understand, Goh is planning to participate in a preliminary for the 2007 presidential election around April or May next year after launching a new party merging the Uri Party and the DP, to fairly compete with other presidential hopefuls of the ruling camp,’ [Rep. Ahn Young-geun-Uri] was quoted as saying.
Goh’s own group to be created as early as July, dubbed temporarily the `Solidarity for Hope,’ will consist of non-political figures pursuing middle-of-the-road and pro-business policies, according to political sources.
This would suggest that Goh will run as a moderate (which fits his image). I guess that makes sense. He knows that the Democratic Labor Party (DLP) is going to run someone in any case, so he will not have the left all to himself. That being the case, Goh will have to appeal to swing voters rather than try to bring out ‘the base’ (since he will not have one).
The folks at the DLP must be happy with this development. It will give them plenty of room to grow over the next year. They might even be able to pick up a couple of seats in the Kuk Hoe from Uri party members would refuse to join the ‘dark side.’
Maybe their candidate for president will even crack 10% next year.
6 Comments
Humm, this warrants a Badukian commentary like such:
Yep, I want front-row seats. I still pick Goh, especially if Park runs; too many see her as a product of the bad past and not of the future.
Admittedly, I don’t know much about Goh, but I do know that Robert and commenters seem to think he would be a good candidate. If that’s the case, I wouldn’t want him to throw his lot in with Uri or the DLP. If he did join forces with them, he might win, and it sounds like Goh would be a hell of alot better than Noh, but then we’d have to contend with the leftist hacks from those two parties and I can’t really see things getting better if that’s the case. Goh would only be able to do so much with such dead weight around his neck. Then I would fear for the fate of the alliance and for the economy. A government that includes the DLP would be a bigger mess than the current one.
A fractious left is really, really good for the GNP. Given the state of Korea’s left, factionalism is to be encouraged. Sure, with a decent left the answer might be different — but for now, these clowns need to be kept away from the wheel.
Well, I don’t know about commenters, but speaking for myself, I’m on the Lee Myung-bak bandwagon. Albeit it seems the latest poll data would suggest the “bandwagon” might have already left.
I am personally not a big fan of Lee Myung-bak (and I am not as negative about Park Geun-hye as most K-bloggers) but he might be the best pick of a weak field.
Goh is “colorless”, but famous as a steady, competent, non-corrupt and
skilled administrator, no mean feat in the snake-pit of Korean government
and politics. He has never shown that mystical charisma you need to be
a top leader — maybe he has it and can bring it forth, but all we know
is we ain’t seen it yet. He certainly can properly balance the left and
right ideologues who are causing so much stress to Korean society…
Koreans are accustomed to strong/tough, dynamic, charismatic leaders;
will they want and would they be satisfied with such a ‘quiet guy’ who
just does his job with honest competence and technocratic ability…?
Stay tuned to this channel.