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The Grand National Party has as expected eliminated a large number of its 62 incumbent lawmakers from the Gyeongsang Provinces, the party's political heartland, in the selection of candidates for the general election next month. Twenty-five lawmakers or 43.5 percent were eliminated, the largest number in the party's history.
They include five-time lawmaker Park Hee-tae, a close aide to President Lee Myung-bak, and Rep. Kim Moo-sung, a three-time lawmaker and the right-hand man of former GNP chairwoman Park Geun-hye. Twelve lawmakers from the Lee faction lost out and 10 from the Park faction. Three are neutral. Among lawmakers who have served more than three times, Lee Sang-deuk, Kang Jae-sup, the former GNP chairwoman, Chung Mong-joon and Chung Ui-wha survived.
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Reporters scramble to get a list of candidates for next month's general elections selected by the Grand National Party at the party's office in Yeouido, Seoul on Thursday. /Yonhap
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Park is expected to announce her position soon. A spokesman for Park, Lee Jung-hyun, said the nomination results were so unexpected that the ex-GNP leader was remaining silent to watch developments. But since some Park loyalists insist on leaving the GNP, all eyes are on the decision she will make on her political future. Park's faction held a meeting at the office of Rep. Kim Moo-sung on Thursday night.
The main opposition United Democratic Party on Wednesday also eliminated major political figures from its nominations. It ditched nine incumbents from its stronghold in the Jeolla Provinces, plus four-term lawmaker Rhee In-je, who was also the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party. After the presidential election in December, the DP merged with the United New Democratic Party to form the UDP. On Thursday, the party removed five more lawmakers including Lee Keun-sik. Forty-eight people including prominent representatives like Kim Geun-tae and Chun Jung-bae and former lawmaker Choo Mi-ae were nominated.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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