The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
  • Hangzhou Asian Games
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Korea's Coast Guard apprehends 22 Chinese after illegal entry attempt

  • 3

    Ruling party vows to investigate China's alleged influence operations

  • 5

    TREASURE takes flak for excluding Dokdo from its Japan tour map

  • 7

    SEVENTEEN's unique approach to artistry: A deep dive into self-production and collaboration

  • 9

    Koreans' happiness rising slowly but surely: presidential panel

  • 11

    Pilot dead after civilian helicopter crashes into reservoir in Pocheon

  • 13

    BTS' Jungkook to release first solo album 'Golden'

  • 15

    Dream-pop band Nice Legs revisits Korea for Block Party

  • 17

    Dong-A Socio Group’s honorary chairman passes away at 96

  • 19

    Hyundai, Kia to extend earnings rally on strengthening dollar, solid sales

  • 2

    Public transit fares to increase in Seoul and Busan this week

  • 4

    Genesis GV80 Coupe looks to compete with Mercedes-Benz, BMW

  • 6

    Korean steelmakers on alert over initiation of EU carbon border tariff

  • 8

    Block Party returns to Yongsan for 2nd year

  • 10

    Korea wins gold medal in men's team Go

  • 12

    Korea crashes out of medal contention in men's basketball

  • 14

    Korean shipbuilders seek lead over Chinese rivals in selling LNG carriers to Qatar

  • 16

    30 out of 74 major financial companies lack female board member

  • 18

    Traffic on major expressways eases on final day of holiday

  • 20

    Lawmakers want chairmen of financial firms held accountable over misconduct

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Thu, October 5, 2023 | 10:50
-------------------------
`Ice Princess' finally plays gender card
Posted : 2012-10-29 18:05
Updated : 2012-10-29 18:05
Kang Hyun-kyung
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
By Kang Hyun-kyung

Rep. Park Geun-hye is nicknamed "Ice Princess" for her reluctance to show emotion and, by extension, to play the gender card, a kind of survival tactic in a world of politics dominated by men.

Now, the ruling Saenuri Party's presidential candidate has apparently thrown caution to the wind, and starting to appeal to women at a time when the outcome of the Dec. 19 election is hard to predict using the campaign motto, "Time for the first woman president."

"The time is ripe for the nation to have a strong female leadership as the harsh economic reality facing grass-root citizens calls upon a leader who can sacrifice herself like a mother for the sake of people's livelihoods," she said in a recent speech.

Gender was previously a taboo subject for Park.

Her opponents alleged that the four-term lawmaker has never submitted a bill calling for any improvement of women's rights.

Park Sun-sook, a chief campaign strategist for the Ahn Cheol-soo camp, said that she was not sure if Park deserves the title of a female candidate who cares for female voters.

"I am wondering if there has been any cases showing that Park as a politician has genuinely represented the best interests of women," the former lawmaker said.

Park has positioned herself as a tough lady, like a battlefield commander spearheading a military operation. This is probably because she has been in a position to take responsibility for election results.

Insiders say Kim Sung-joo, CEO and chairwoman of the luxury MCM bag maker Sungjoo Group, was an agent of change behind Park's gender remarks these days.

Kim, also co-chairwoman of the Park camp, reportedly recommended the 60-year-old politician to play the gender card.

During a meeting with senior Saenuri Party members, Monday, Kim touted female leadership for the nation. "So far, we've seen that the politics of disappointment has gone on," the businesswoman said.

"The only way we can end the vicious circle is to vote for a female candidate as the next president and empower the new leader to fulfill her vision of clean politics."

Despite being a female presidential candidate, Park has not actively pursued women voters.

In a recent Seoul Shinmun newspaper poll, Park garnered 47 percent of support in a hypothetical two-way race with independent Ahn who had 45.3 percent.

Asking for anonymity because she was not authorized to speak to the media, a ruling party official said Park was benefitting from Kim's involvement in her campaign.

"Kim stands out because of her uncommon dress code, choices of words and her being outspoken, both in a positive and negative way. But the fact that she is unusual draws much attention from young women, particularly in their 20s," she said.

Inside the Saenuri Party, some apparently feel uneasy about Park playing the gender card to boost her ratings.

They say risks lurk as Park could fall victim to the stereotypes that women are weak and need protection and that Korea is not ready for a female president.

Emailhkang@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
LG
Top 10 Stories
1POSCO Future M, LG Chem, EcoPro BM hit by plunging lithium, nickel prices POSCO Future M, LG Chem, EcoPro BM hit by plunging lithium, nickel prices
2Gangnam gears up for festival showcasing various K-culture events Gangnam gears up for festival showcasing various K-culture events
3North Korea lays groundwork for US disarmament talks: experts North Korea lays groundwork for US disarmament talks: experts
4Seoul's parks abuzz with fall festivals Seoul's parks abuzz with fall festivals
5South Korea to found cyberwarfare reserve forces in 2025 South Korea to found cyberwarfare reserve forces in 2025
6Samsung targets mid-range market with affordable S23 FE Samsung targets mid-range market with affordable S23 FE
7Bank of Korea takes first step to adopt centralized digital currency Bank of Korea takes first step to adopt centralized digital currency
8Task force planned to prevent opinion-rigging on Daum portal Task force planned to prevent opinion-rigging on Daum portal
9Seoul to invest W5 tril. to become fintech powerhouse Seoul to invest W5 tril. to become fintech powerhouse
10Business tycoons head overseas to support Busan's Expo bid Business tycoons head overseas to support Busan's Expo bid
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Crime thriller, romance series set to roll out in October Crime thriller, romance series set to roll out in October
2Korean literature featured as animation works at Incheon Airport Korean literature featured as animation works at Incheon Airport
328th BIFF opens with star-studded red carpet event 28th BIFF opens with star-studded red carpet event
4[PHOTOS] Kep1er returns with 'Magic Hour' to mesmerize fans PHOTOSKep1er returns with 'Magic Hour' to mesmerize fans
5TREASURE takes flak for excluding Dokdo from its Japan tour map TREASURE takes flak for excluding Dokdo from its Japan tour map
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group