(216) Face readings of presidential candidates
Park Geun-hye Lee Jung-hee Moon Jae-in
By Janet Shin
With less than a week left before the 18th presidential election, almost 40 percent of Korean people watched the first and second televised debates. There must have been intensive preparations for the policy agenda and election pledges but also seemingly hidden side arrangements. In the second debate, the ruling Saenuri Party candidate, Park Geun-hye, showed up in a red suit, the party’s symbolic color. Lee Jung-hee of the leftist, Unified Progressive Party (UPP) stood in the middle, in a pale cream-colored suit. Democratic United Party (DUP) candidate Moon Jae-in was wearing a green tie with a classic black suit.
It was noticeably different from the previous debate when they all wore dark colored suits. It was an apparent signal that the two major candidates, Park and Moon to express their parties’ identity and strong will to fight against their opponent’s attack. While Lee, in muted colors, tried to portray a character that would be toned down this time. The first debate, on the other hand, aroused people’s attention with Lee’s unexpected assault, especially toward Park, and Moon’s comparatively weak presence.
It is obviously not a primary concern for a saju master or a physiognomist to judge political directivity and creed. I have read politicians’ faces several times, how their reputation, authority and desire for power were portrayed. In practicing physiognomy, what we read is tone of voice, clothes and posture, as well as each part of the face. During the debate, Lee demonstrated her eloquence, which clearly denoted her political competency. Meanwhile, Park seemed rather inarticulate. She maintained an unperturbed posture despite probing questions from Lee. However she made some slips of the tongue, and not for the first time. Moon held on to a kind, sincere image even though his pronunciation was a little off.
The first thing to look for when reading faces is whether they are symmetrical. Then, what we focus on alters depending on which aspect of life we want to read. For example, if reading a businessman’s face, the shape of their nose is the top priority as the nose represents wealth.
Eyes are a key part of the face, especially in competition. Lee sometimes opened her eyes wide when smiling, especially when she asked Park incisive questions. As ancient scholars compared human faces with those of animals, this shape of the eyes is known as snake’s eyes. Lee Seok-gi, a UPP lawmaker who was previously berated for vote rigging, has a similar eye-shape. The two also have the same day master in their saju. Moon’s eyes do not display aggression. He has meek eyes that seldom alter their expression. They are called cow’s eyes, which are seen in a reliable person’s face. His eyes are distinguished from most former Korean presidents, who had sharp narrow eyes. Park’s crescent-shaped eyes never reveal their true colors. Other than lifting the corner of her mouth slightly, her face remained calm and seemed rather unconcerned.
People with protruding mouths, like Lee, are loquacious. If they have something to say, they cannot prevent themselves from doing so. Lee’s forehead and chin do not show an honorable person. The pointed chin cannot gather people around her. She has the courage of her convictions portrayed by smile lines. Moon’s face, on the contrary to people’s perception, does not show that of a powerful politician. It is because of his less prominent cheekbones in middle part of his face, which reveals one’s aspiration and desire for power. His saju also shows that his career star, representing authority and power is void. However, the deficiency is covered by his chin that clearly shows a tenacious will.
If you were to evaluate their debating skills, you could find other strengths and weaknesses. From the eyes of physiognomists, more humane features revealing their hidden personalities and fortune were seen. Politics is often paved by sharper tongues but actions and spirituality speak louder than their words.
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The writer is the president of the Heavenly Garden, a saju research center in Korea, and the author of “Learning Four Pillars.” For further information, visit Janet’s website at www.fourpillarskorea.com or contact her at 010-5414-7461 or email janetshin@hotmail.com.