CHUNG DONG-YOUNG RETAKES HELM OF RULING URI PARTY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 000590

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR KS
SUBJECT: CHUNG DONG-YOUNG RETAKES HELM OF RULING URI PARTY


Classified By: POL M/C Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Former Minister of Unification Chung
Dong-young was elected chairman of the ruling Uri Party on
February 18. His election is seen as further proof of his
voter appeal and augurs well for his bid to win the party's
nomination for the 2007 presidential election. Chung's first
challenge, however, will be to drum up support for Uri ahead
of the May 31 nation-wide local elections. Given low
expectations (most polls have Uri losing all gubernatorial
and significant mayoral races),even a single win would add
to Chung's luster. His victory statement suggests that
Chung's strategy will be to blame the conservative GNP for
widespread corruption in regional governments. END SUMMARY.

CHUNG RETAKES HELM OF URI
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2. (U) Chung Dong-young, who stepped down as Minister of
Unification at the end of 2005, was elected chairman of the
ruling Uri Party during a party convention on February 18.
Chung, who won the votes of 4,450 out of about 10,000
delegates, beat back a late surge by his nemesis, former
Health and Welfare Minister Kim Geun-tae. Kim came in second
with 3,847 votes. Chung, Kim, and the next three top
vote-getters -- Reps. Kim Hyuck-kyu, Kim Doo-kwan, Cho
Bae-sook -- will form the Steering Committee of the Uri
Party.


3. (C) Chung's supporters say his victory is proof of
Chung's voter appeal and gives him an early advantage in the
race to win the Uri Party's nomination for the 2007
presidential election. Indeed, many in the ruling party
appear to have voted for Chung in the hope that he can do in
May 2006 what he did in April 2004, when he energized young
voters and led Uri to a convincing victory in that
parliamentary election.


4. (C) Chung's victory speech indicates that he intends to
mount an aggressive negative campaign against the main
opposition Grand National Party (GNP) in the run-up to the
May 31 nation-wide local elections. Polls currently point to
another humiliating defeat for Uri, which has been reeling
from total losses in both by-elections in 2005. In his
victory speech, Chung promised to mount a "fierce struggle"
against the GNP, which he blamed for socio-economic
polarization in the country. He also blamed the GNP for
widespread corruption in regional governments, many of which
are led by GNP members, and urged voters to oust incumbent
local officials.


5. (C) With about 100 days left before voters go to the
polls, Chung has immersed himself in the job of putting
together a star-studded slate of candidates. Indeed,
President Roh is expected to announce next week a partial
Cabinet reshuffle that will see some of his best-known
ministers resign in order to run for key posts in May. In
addition, Uri -- like the GNP and Democratic Party -- is
attempting to form an alliance with former PM Goh Kun,
currently a popular presidential hopeful who is expected to
be able to draw votes from the Jeolla Provinces.

COMMENT
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6. (C) Given low expectations for Uri in the May election,
even a single victory would boost Chung's standing within his
own party. It is uncertain, however, that that bounce will
extend to his standing with the general public. Despite a
high-profile tenure as Minister of Unification and universal
name recognition, Chung continues to struggle to be taken
seriously as presidential material. Latest polls show him
trailing far behind GNP Chairwoman Park Geun-hye, Seoul Mayor
Lee Myung-bak, and former PM Goh Kun. END COMMENT.
VERSHBOW