Hong unveils reform roadmap amid mounting pressure to resign


Grand National Party chairman Hong Joon-pyo said he will start immediately efforts to reform the party, as fears mounted among its members that the party, without drastic reforms, will be crushed by a resurgent liberal opposition in crucial elections next year.

“A committee, comprising both party and non-party figures, will be launched, tasked with preparations for the party’s rebirth,” Hong told a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul.

The politician, GNP chief since July, unveiled his roadmap to recreate the party in mid-February, a day after he survived a virtual vote of no-confidence.

Three of the five members of the party’s top decision-making Supreme Council resigned Thursday, stating the need for a leadership shakeup. 

A defiant Hong, however, called on a general gathering of all GNP legislators, asking rank-and-file members to decide his course of action. Hong said he would lead efforts to reform the party, if members allowed him.

Under Hong’s four-point roadmap, the party will be “reborn” in mid-February after completion of the candidate-fielding process for the general elections in April.

The party will employ a set of strict guidelines in screening potential candidates for the April election, even if it means none of incumbent lawmakers wins the nomination.

He will also seek to revise party rules which force presidential aspirants to give up party leadership positions a year and a half prior to the election.

“I will change party rules to allow presidential hopefuls to be able to steer the party at the very front into the April election,” he said.

His assurance appeared to be failing to placate the reform-minded members who think Hong must bow out to allow a new start for conservatives, who have been beset by a series of corruption scandals and election defeats.

“Under the current leadership, our party will not be able to overcome a crisis of life or death which it is now in. We urge Hong to make up his mind (on his course of action) and shift the party into an emergency management system,” first-term lawmakers belonging to a group called Minbon21, said in a statement.

If the demands are not met, they will take “drastic actions,” which, insiders say, include deserting their party membership.

Rep. Won Hee-ryong, one of the three Supreme members who quit Thursday, blasted Hong that he was clinging to his post and vested rights.

He said there are at least two legislators who will bolt out of the party with him, if they have to.

By Lee Sun-young (mliaya@heraldcorp.com)