The Democratic United Party has repeatedly promised a complete overhaul of its leadership and party platform, but two and a half months after its humiliating defeat in the December presidential election. it is still mired in internal strife.
What's holding the party back is the struggle between the members who were once loyal to former President Roh Moo-hyun, and who also control the party, and those who oppose them.
The party has not only failed to produce effective policy alternatives, it has failed to take any meaningful steps toward reform.
Although the head of the party's emergency leadership committee, Moon Hee-sang , promised to bring about sweeping reforms targeting the factional power struggle, another fight between the factions is brewing this one over the upcoming party convention in May, where new party leaders will be elected.
The pro-Roh faction wants to get rid of the mobile voting system the party used last year, and instead conduct a public opinion poll that includes the 350-thousand voters who used the system to cast their ballots.
The opposing faction claims that a large proportion of those voters supports the pro-Roh faction that they blame for the party's presidential election defeat.
And with talk of former presidential candidate Moon Jae-in, a member of the pro-Roh faction, resuming his politicial activities, the opposing faction is saying that members of the pro-Roh faction should step down to take responsibility for the election loss.

Meanwhile, former Seoul National University Professor Ahn Cheol-soo is expected to resume his political career following an extended stay in the United States that followed his withdrawal from the presidential race to possibly run in the October by-elections.
The former professor is widely expected to form a new political party of his own and may also support a close associate in the April by-elections.
Lee Ji-yoon, Arirang News.

Reporter : jiyoonjlee@arirang.co.kr