'Toilet-sensitive' President Park

Incumbent lawmaker and former Incheon city mayor Song Young-gil revealed, Dec. 8, that President Park Geun-hye had replaced an existing toilet in his city office room with a new one to use the restroom. / Courtesy of Hankook Ilbo

By Ko Dong-hwan

Throughout the past weeks of massive anti-president demonstrations nationwide demanding her resignation and her three national speeches and refusal to step down immediately, President Park Geun-hye hinted she would cling to the presidency as long as possible.

And on Dec. 8, a lawmaker revealed for the first time the President's other "more private" attachment: a bacteria-free clean toilet.

"The President visited Incheon City Office when I was city mayor (2010-14)," said Rep. Song Young-gil, of the Minjoo Party of Korea.

He made the comment on Dec. 8, as a guest on a YouTube live talk show organized by the main opposition party at the National Assembly.

According to the informant, the office had reported to the President during the morning about the city's current situations and the mayor's performance.

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After a luncheon at the office, they went outside for local canvassing with her.

Rep. Song Young-gil (far left) talks about the President's toilet episode at a YouTube live talk show organized by main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea at the National Assembly. / Screen capture from YouTube

"At one time, officials from the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae had asked me if the President could use my room for a brief rest," Rep. Song said on the show, at which four other lawmakers were guests.

"I gladly agreed to the request. But then, the presidential secretaries again came to me and said the President wanted to replace a toilet in a restroom inside the room.

"I was totally dumbfounded."

The story was surprising enough to turn heads toward him, with the show's host, former party member Choi Min-hee, being particularly loud about the President's newly found "surreal" penchant for hygiene.

"I guess the President simply did not want to share my toilet," Rep. Song said, laughing.

Another participant quipped, "That is one good example of a creative economy."

The YouTube show continued until 300 lawmakers had cast ballots at a parliamentary vote on impeaching the President late in the afternoon on Dec. 9.

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