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| Moon Jae-in, a former leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea, poses for a selfie with a citizen at a candlelit rally in central Seoul, Saturday, where people gathered to call for the immediate resignation of President Park Geun-hye. / Yonhap |
Two in rivalry over regime change vs. political reform
By Kim Hyo-jin
Ex-leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) Moon Jae-in and former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon are squaring off ahead of the presidential election possibly slated for early this year.
The frontrunner and the second-most-popular in opinion polls have clashed in a battle of buzzwords between "regime change" and "political reform."
Moon is emphasizing the end of a decade of conservative government. His remarks, buoyed by the candlelit rallies, have increased upon the arrival of Ban, who is believed to be aligned with the ruling conservative bloc.
"I will do my utmost to carry out the public wish for regime change," the former opposition leader said during an inaugural meeting of his supporters' group, Saturday.
"With candlelit rallies, the public opinion is clearly saying we should root out evils of the old system and launch the new era."
It came after Ban stressed the need to carry out thorough political reforms, dismissing the significance of who takes power during his first press conference in Seoul, Thursday.
In a speech which hinted at his presidential ambitions, Ban said, "What is so important about who takes power? It's a disaster to let political wrangling further divide the nation. Now is the time to seek political reforms, not regime change."
Moon later criticized Ban, saying the impeached President, Park Geun-hye, had voiced the same sentiment in the previous presidential campaign.
Park, then presidential candidate of the ruling Saenuri Party, took over from the conservative Lee Myung-bak administration. She was also vocal of political reform, a move viewed to have been adopted for downplaying the opposition's push for regime change.
In response, Ban reiterated political reform, raising an offensive to Moon.
"It's highly possible that wrongdoings will be repeated even if the government is changed as long as the existing political system remains intact," he told reporters, Sunday.
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| Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon looks around the wreckage of the naval frigate Cheonan that was sunk by a North Korean torpedo in March 2010, at the Navy's 2nd Fleet Command in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, Sunday. / Yonhap |
Constitutional revision
Ban further stretched his argument, noting a constitutional amendment as an example of possible measures. "We need to mend decision-making processes and practices in politics by revising the electoral system through constitutional reform," he said.
Ban's rhetoric indicated he was positioning himself as an alternative candidate to Moon, according to analysts.
Moon has been reluctant on constitutional reform before the presidential ballot while the talk on the issue by his political rivals has been centered on changing the power structure ― a single-term, five-year presidency.
Ban also showed support for a controversial government decision to deploy a U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery here, increasing rivalry with Moon, a vocal opponent to the anti-missile system.
"It is natural of the government to take such a measure considering the Korean Peninsula is in a quasi-state of war," the ex-U.N. chief said. "The government agreed to install it as North Korea continues to develop nuclear weapons and accumulate technologies for ballistic missiles."
"Issues concerning neighboring countries can be dealt with diplomatically," he added, referring to the ongoing backlash from China.
China, which believes THAAD here threatens its security interests, has taken various retaliatory actions against its deployment since the decision was made last July.
Opposition parties and potential presidential runners have called for the withdrawal of the THAAD deployment, skeptical of the efficacy of the battery and concerned about worsening relations with Beijing.
Ban, a newcomer on the domestic political scene, is seeking to expand his supporters while spanning the ideological spectrum.
He visited the Navy's 2nd Fleet Command in Pyeongtaek, where the wreckage of the frigate Cheonan is on display, Sunday ― a move seen as an appeal to conservative voters sensitive to security issues.
A spokesman said Ban plans to visit the hometown of former President Roh Moo-hyun in Bongha Village in South Gyeongsang Province and the National Cemetery in Gwangju commemorating those killed by the government in the May 18 Gwangju Uprising ― signature places for the liberal bloc.
Ban noted that he is willing to attend a candlelit rally where protesters call for the immediate resignation of President Park, and at the same time, said he plans to call Park soon.
