The Millennium Democratic Party's anti-Roh Mu-hyun faction announced that its members would leave the party en-masse Monday and form a negotiating group in the National Assembly to attempt to seek a single candidate, preferably Chung Mong-joon. This kind of move within the MDP is embarrassing and confusing, as the party prided itself in have the first ever presidential candidate primary in its selection of Roh, and it is less than 50 days before the election.

It may be understandable from the point of view of the desperation of the MDP and Chung's National Unity 21, as the Grand National Party's Lee Hoi-chang emerges as the strongest of the political contenders. However, when looking at it in light of the character of political party politics, they present no identity, the basis of a party's existence, and merely seem to be desperately clutching for power swayed by political polls.

The move for a single candidate when there is a lack of any common objectives and based simply on the rejection of specific candidates is nonsense. These political tactics are at odds with and destroy any unified belief. The MDP and Chung are thus eradicating their raison d' etre and identity.

Political identity is necessary for a righteous victory and is a bridge to regenerating and revitalizing politics in adverse situations. In this respect the MDP and Chung need to display political transparency and not blur their inherent positions due to imminent necessity and convenience.

November 4, 2002