Ahn Cheol-soo rolls political dice
People’s Party Chairman Ahn Cheol-soo proved his political influence when President Moon Jae-in’s pick for Constitutional Court chief, Kim Yi-su, failed to get Assembly approval, Monday, mainly due to opposition from lawmakers tied to Ahn.
The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and Cheong Wa Dae largely anticipated Kim would get legislative approval with the support of the People’s Party despite objections from the two conservative parties — Liberty Korea Party (LKP) and Bareun Party.
Out of 293 lawmakers, Kim received 145 ballots in favor and 145 against. Given that 120 ruling DPK lawmakers and six Justice Party lawmakers cast their ballots in favor of Kim, only nine out of 40 People’s Party representatives voted for him.
“The results show the People’s Party is the only decision maker in the Assembly,” Ahn boasted after Kim’s nomination was rejected. The unpredicted outcome bewildered the ruling camp.
In response to Ahn’s remark, the DPK expressed feelings of betrayal, Tuesday. “I feel a deep sense of shame to see the People’s Party has aligned itself with the far-right LKP,” DPK floor leader Woo Won-shik said.
“Kim has lived as a respected judge for 40 years and spoken for social minorities in view of human rights and democracy.”
A radio interview with a veteran politician of the People’s Party, Rep. Park Jie-won, further sparked outrage within the DPK. Park said Kim’s disapproval is in exchange for the ruling camp’s “arrogance,” in pushing for President Moon’s disputed nominees.
Rep. Park Hong-geun, vice chief of the DPK, lashed out at Park Jie-won for betraying the liberal citizens based in the Jeolla region, the People’s Party’s support base where Kim was born.
The area, isolated from the higher echelons for decades, had been eager for Kim’s nomination. Recently, the DPK and the People’s Party were exchanging barbs over an infrastructure budget for less-developed areas to appeal to the liberal voters there.
“I vividly observed how the People’s Party ignores the Jeolla area,” a netizen, who claimed to be a Jeolla resident, posted on the People’s Party website, Tuesday.
A flood of criticism paralyzed the website, blasting the party’s “unjustifiable political attack” to drive out the reformist judge. Kim was the sole constitutional judge who opposed the dismissal of a Unified Progressive Party in 2014, concerning the rule may shrink the democracy.
In 2015, he ruled in favor of the teacher labor union putting emphasis on worker independence and the right to organize. This year, when the top court ousted ex-President Park Geun-hye, Kim consoled the bereaved families of the Sewol ferry disaster.
For 110 days, when Kim’s post was up in the air in the face of the opposition bloc’s protest, Kim was grilled over his alleged advocacy for the rights of homosexuals.
Being conscious of the backlash of liberal voters, the People’s Party is being cautious ahead of the regional election slated for June next year.
“The People’s Party let lawmakers cast their ballots according to their consciences. It’s hard to believe that all DPK lawmakers voted in favor of Kim since it was a secret vote,” People’s Party floor leader Kim Dong-cheol said, Tuesday.