I am an editorial writer at The Korea Times, focusing on foreign policy, North Korea and domestic politics. My key areas of interest include North Korea, foreign interference in elections, election integrity, cyberattacks and human rights. Prior to joining the Editorial Board, I served as both Politics Desk editor and Culture Desk editor. During my career, I have reported on the Presidential Office under the Lee Myung-bak administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly.
Park’s unity tour backfires from within
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Rep. Park Geun-hye, a presidential candidate of the ruling Saenuri Party, is facing criticism from within as her reconciliation tour showed signs of fracturing.
On Thursday, her enemies opened fire at the daughter of the late President Park Chung-hee, saying the way she embarked on the unity tour to embrace the victims of her father’s rule and their sympathizers, was flawed.
Rep. Lee Jae-oh tweeted that it’s wrong to assume that our counterpart would welcome us any time, under any circumstances, if we visit them for the sake of reconciliation.
“Such mindset reveals one’s arrogance and authoritarian way of thinking,” he alleged.
The lawmaker, who withdrew his presidential bid after his demands for a primary rules change were not accepted, didn’t clarify who he was referring to in the verbal attack.
Seen from the timing and his choices of words, however, his remarks were construed as targeting Rep. Park as she received the cold shoulder from the families of the late activist Chun Tae-il (1948-1970).
On Tuesday, Park, along with her aides, arrived at the non-profit foundation established to commemorate Chun who sacrificed his life in a protest of self-immolation protest in 1970. The late Chun was acting against the then Park Chung-hee administration’s repressive labor practices.
He was a worker in the manufacturing sector and he set himself on fire in an accusation of the government and employers of abusive labor practices.
Rep. Park had to change her schedule as Chun’s family didn’t allow her entry in the foundation building in central Seoul.
In a press release circulated shortly after Park’s foiled visit, Rep. Chun Soon-ok of the main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) said she and her family members were embarrassed as they were not informed of Park’s visit in advance.
Rep. Chun, a younger sister of the late activist, said her family would welcome Rep. Park if and when the presidential candidate shows her deeper understanding of “the harsh reality” facing laborers and come up with a set of measures to tackle youth unemployment, soaring household debts, and minimum wage.
“But now, I don’t see her purpose as sincere and heart-felt, given she showed no repentance over the May 16 military coup and her father’s dictatorship,” Rep. Chun said.
On Thursday, Rep. Nam Kyung-phil of the Saenuri Party agreed with the DUP lawmaker over Park’s allegedly abrupt and unannounced visit to the late activist’s family.
“It was a nice try for the presidential candidate to pay a visit to them. Obviously doing so is better than doing nothing,” Nam said. “But I believe Rep. Park should have consulted the family members before going ahead with the visit. She shouldn’t regard her rare visit to the foundation as a one-time event.”
Park’s sincerity will be accepted if she displays a deeper understanding of the socio-economic circumstances that drove the young activist to resort to such an extreme sacrifice to send his message to the then government, Rep. Nam said.