By Park Song-wu
Staff Reporter

Junior lawmakers of the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) on Friday delivered an ultimatum to party chairman Choe Byung-yul to resign or face expulsion.

They gave Choe just one day to make a decision, saying they will hold off all meetings until then.

Choe was not available for comment as he left Seoul for an unidentified location in Kyonggi Province on Thursday to contemplate his political future.

The strong statement from the reform-minded junior lawmakers came after Choe said through his confidant that he will stay in his post until he has set up a preparatory committee for the upcoming general elections.

Meanwhile, Park Geun-hye is emerging as a strong contender to replace the embattled Choe. She has been considered a possible next leader of the conservative party by junior legislators. The 52-year-old, two-term lawmaker’s chances got a boost as influential figures including Kang Jae-sup and Kang Chang-hee officially gave her their backing.

``I think Rep. Park Geun-hye is the only countermeasure to chairman Choe,’’ Kang Chang-hee said. ``We have to elect her as our new chairman and finish forming the new leadership by March 15.’’

The daughter of former President Park Chung-hee and a native of GNP stronghold the Kyongsang provinces, Park reacted cautiously but didn’t hide her ambition to become the party’s new leader.

``It is not a proper time to give my opinion because Choe has not yet announced his stance,’’ Park said. ``We have to devote ourselves to solve this crisis and I also am ready to sacrifice myself for the sake of the country.’’

The sudden development took place after the GNP’s three highest-ranking officials, including floor leader Hong Sa-duk, met with 12 representatives from the reform-minded junior group and the conservative senior faction to try to devise a peaceful solution to the party’s crisis prior to the crucial April elections.

Choe’s determination to remain as chairman, however, remained a major point of dispute at the intra-party talks.

``If Choe refuses to step down, all party members will turn their backs on him,’’ said Nam Kyung-pil, a leader of the GNP junior faction. ``We will continue our campaign to drive him out by any means.’’

The two sides agreed on Thursday that an emergency committee should select a new leadership because the retention of Choe as party chairman could damage its electoral prospects.

However, party members have failed to agree on how this committee should be formed. The reformists want a party caucus to determine the leadership, while the conservatives, largely from the Kyongsang provinces, want Choe to have a key role in the committee’s establishment. Choe is from the same conservative region.

To find a graceful way out for Choe, his supporters suggested he could take up a new position.

``Choe’s intention is to turn over his power to the committee and then to help restore order in the divided party as an advisor,’’ said Hong Joon-pyo, the party’s top strategist, who spoke to Choe on the telephone.

Hong argued that junior and some senior members’ attempts to oust Choe stemmed from their desire to grab power in the party or were derived from grievances about the ongoing candidate screening process for the elections.

``Choe asked me not to deviate and to continue the screening process,’’ Hong said. ``He has already decided not to run in the elections. Now we simply need to discuss the best way to organize the election preparatory committee.’’

Choe has reportedly made phone calls to senior party members and other backers to ask for their continued support and help in finding a smooth solution to the crisis. He intends to announce his plans Sunday, according to sources.

im@koreatimes.co.kr