South Korea’s Kim Quits Ruling Party
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SEOUL — South Korea’s President Kim Young Sam, beset by scandals that landed close aides in jail, bowed to demands by his party’s presidential candidate Friday and quit the New Korea Party that he founded.
His spokesman said Kim quit to ensure a fair presidential election and concentrate on running the country, but the demand from party candidate Lee Hoi Chang was seen as a blunt attack on Kim that could further split the party.
The two have been at odds since Lee’s popularity plummeted shortly after he won the party nomination in July.
Political analysts said Kim, barred by law from seeking a second term in the Dec. 18 election, had in fact now jumped into the power struggle between the New Korea Party and party renegades who formed the rival New Party by the People.
The new group is led by Rhee In Je, a young and popular former governor who quit the governing party to mount an independent bid for the presidency after losing the nomination to Lee.
The election is shaping up as a three-way contest: Polls show opposition candidate Kim Dae Jung leading his rivals.
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