hankyoreh

Everyone thought president Roh Moo-hyun was going to be a lame duck the remainder of his term. In addition, some of the ruling Uri Party was going to play the "create yourself a whole new party" card.

Across the table, Park Geun-hye and former Seoul mayor Lee Myung-bak were going to play the "primary" card and put on a big show for the Grand National Party's presidential candidate selection process.

They're alarmed when Roh pulls out the "revise the constitution to allow presidents successive four-year terms" card. They didn't see that one coming, and among other things it means he is still alive and kicking and ready to set the public agenda for much of the rest of his time in office.