The main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy chairman Rep. Moon Jae-in was further pushed into a corner Wednesday as pressure mounted on him to resign to avoid a possible split of the party.

Given wide speculation that former cochairman Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo would defect from the party as early as this week, party members stepped up calls for Moon to resign and establish an emergency committee to take over.

“Unless Rep. Moon steps down within this week, Rep. Ahn will make the decision (to leave the party),” Rep. Moon Byeong-ho, a close aide to the mogul-turned-politician, told reporters Wednesday.

“Should Ahn break away, we expect 20 to 30 party members to follow suit, which should be enough to establish a parliamentary negotiation body.”

He also hinted that Ahn may join hands with fifth-term lawmaker Rep. Chun Jung-bae, who defected earlier this year.

Ahn remained silent over the escalating conflict fueled by his Sunday press conference demanding a new party leadership to ensure victory in the April 13 general elections, but is largely rumored to be preparing a press conference to announce his defection later this week.

Talks of the party’s division were further egged on by floor leader Rep. Lee Jong-kul, who declared that he would not attend the Supreme Council meeting in a show of protest against Moon, calling the meeting “flawed and malfunctioning.”

“A majority of party lawmakers have agreed that we need to establish an emergency committee (to replace the current leadership),” he said.

“This plan involves the resignation of chairman Moon and the participation of former chairman Ahn.”

Lee said he would continue to manage the party’s affairs. But his reproach by the party’s central decision-making body has led to a deadlock, pushing fellow party members to decide their stance.

Lawmakers representing the metropolitan constituencies ― who face tough competition against ruling Saenuri Party members in the parliamentary race ― also held a meeting with a consensus that the party was entering an emergency situation.

“If the party divides, the metropolitan constituencies are expected to be hurt the most,” said Rep. Kim Sang-hee, representing Bucheon, Gyeonggi Province.

Former NPAD floor leaders including Rep. Won Hye-young and Rep. Park Jie-won also met for breakfast, with a majority of the attendees agreeing that Moon’s resignation was the only way to go, according to party sources who wished to remain anonymous.

Another NPAD heavyweight, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, also urged for a breakthrough, saying in a radio interview, “There should not be a division of the NPAD. As Seoul mayor, it is hard for me to directly involve myself in the situation, but I think that chairman Moon and former chairman Ahn should step forward, resolve their differences and prepare ways to unite the party.”

Ahn had repeatedly called for a leadership shake-up since the party’s complete defeat in the April parliamentary by-elections. After stepping down from his chairmanship in July, he demanded Moon follow suit and accept a national caucus to elect a new leadership.

Moon, however, explicitly rejected Ahn’s suggestion, claiming it was triggered by the fear of members who were sidelined that they would not be nominated as candidates for the general elections.

“Defection and division cannot be justified, under any circumstances,” the party leader said at the Supreme Council meeting.

“Our mission is to reinforce unity, win in the upcoming general elections and to deter the self-righteous rule of the current administration.”

Rep. Moon also promised to revise the party constitution so as to include Ahn’s reform plans. He, however, neither mentioned his possible resignation nor responded to the emergency committee suggestion.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)