By Park Song-wu
Staff Reporter

Rep. Shin Ki-nam, leader of the Uri Party, is expected to officially announce his resignation from the party chairmanship Thursday, taking responsibility for his father’s pro-Japanese activities during the 1910-1945 colonial period, sources close to Shin said.

Shin told the ruling party’s high-ranking officials yesterday that he was determined to step down from the top post of the majority party, which has 152 lawmakers in the 299-seat National Assembly.

``I don’t want to be a stumbling block to our party’s efforts to correct history,’’ Shin was quoted as saying by Uri Party’s floor leader Chun Jung-bae. ``I don’t need to cling to my post.’’

He is likely to hold a press conference today to officially announce his resignation, party officials said.

Shin’s decision was first known to President Roh Moo-hyun and other party leaders on Tuesday when local dailies reported that his father tortured independence fighters while serving as a staff sergeant in the Japanese military police.

Canceling his scheduled tour to Taegu and nearby areas in the Kyongsang provinces yesterday, Shin visited the Korea Liberation Association to deliver his apology to those who had fought for the nation’s liberation from the Japanese colonial rule.

Shin, who was called ``taliban’’ for his reform-only attitude, has spearheaded a campaign to clear up history by launching a fact-finding mission into pro-Japanese collaborators.

Many of the party leaders, including Rep. Moon Hee-sang, are opposed to Shin’s sudden resignation for fear of the possible leadership vacuum. ``I don’t think he has committed an unforgivable mistake,’’ Moon said. ``In addition, his early exit will create a serious leadership crisis.’’

If Shin resigns, there will be only two elected figures available in the standing steering committee of the Uri Party as three others, including Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, have already left the committee.

Shin’s resignation will give temporary leadership to Lee Bu-young, a member of the standing steering committee who had sought greater power within the party, according to the party’s constitution.

But Lee is expected to face tough battles to stabilize his power as followers of the so-called ``Uri Party troika’’ _ Shin, Chun and Chung _ are reluctant to see the power shift to Lee, who failed to win a parliamentary seat in April 15 general election.

The troika faction, instead, wants to compose an emergency committee to address party affairs until it holds a national convention in February to elect new leaders, including the chairperson.

Shin took over the top post on May 17 after Chung left in order to obtain a seat in the Cabinet.

In a major setback for the ruling camp’s efforts to correct history, Shin admitted on Monday that his father had served as a military policeman in the Japanese army.

Before the monthly Shindonga uncovered his family background in its September issue on Monday, Shin had asserted that his father had worked as a teacher during the colonial period and joined the Korean police only after liberation in 1945.

The magazine, however, presented evidence indicating that Shin senior had hunted down draft dodgers who were avoiding conscription to the Japanese army.

Local dailies added fuel by reporting testimonies that Shin’s father even tortured national independence fighters. It is not clear whether he tortured them by himself or directed those under his command to do so.

im@koreatimes.co.kr