Yi Whan-woo is a Korea Times journalist primarily covering finance. He writes in-depth articles on macroeconomy and financial markets and previously covered sports, politics, diplomacy and inter-Korean affairs, among others. Feel free to contact him at yistory@koreatimes.co.kr.
Park accents role of woman president
By Yi Whan-woo
Park Geun-hye of conservative ruling Saenuri Party waves to her supporters after a speech in Songdo, the international financial district in Incheon, Sunday, where she delivered her election pledges. Yonhap
By Yi Whan-woo
Park Geun-hye, the presidential candidate of the ruling Saenuri Party, continued with her campaign Sunday highlighting her image as “prepared woman president.”
The standard bearer of the conservative party stressed her vision as a president “ready for action” to deal with the economy and everyday lives of ordinary people.
She pledged to accomplish social integration, political reform, and “democratization of the economy,” a buzz-phrase also cited frequently by her rival liberal candidates, for a better society.
“I promise all of you that I will fulfill those three visions,” she said during her speech delivering her election pledges in Songdo, a financial district of Incheon.
“Everyone deserves to be treated equally regardless of where they live and their social status,” said Park, referring to the much-touted need for economic justice. “And I will make sure to achieve social integration where there will be no discrimination or privileges among people.”
Park has been stressing her role as a “practical” leader in contrast to her two liberal rivals who have focused on talks for a united candidacy over the past week.
She earlier criticized the two ? Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Untied Party (DUP) and independent Ahn Cheol-soo ? for “their lack of effort in reviving the economy and the everyday lives of the public.”
An aide echoed a similar view Sunday when DUP leader Lee Hae-chan resigned to break the stalemate in talks between Moon and Ahn. Lee’s move came after the independent candidate claimed that Lee was behind the scheme to exploit the talks for a single candidacy to benefit Moon.
Lee Jung-hyun, chief of public relations for Park’s election campaign, said the DUP leader’s decision showed that Ahn’s claim was true.
“The DUP clearly showed that it is comprised by old-fashioned politicians who only seek to benefit themselves,” he said. “The incident shows the DUP members including Moon are mere puppets of Ahn, and Moon definitely doesn’t deserve to run as a political candidate.”
Ahn Hyung-hwan, a Saenuri Party spokesman, criticized the independent candidate over the DUP leader’s resignation.
“They have repeatedly called for a single candidacy as part of efforts for political reform, and Lee’s decision shows Ahn Cheol-soo is a childish man who would ask for anything for his own benefit,” he said.
In the meantime, Park added she will make efforts to require politicians to give up their privileges and vested rights, and instead solely focus on looking after the welfare of the people.
“For clean politics, politicians need to show servant-leadership by communicating with the general public and I will strongly push for such political reform,” she said.
The “economic justice” centers on economic growth that focuses on the welfare of workers, including non-permanent employees, and Park underscored “fairness and justice” in the economy to achieve the goal.
“Foul play, unfairness, uncertainty and chaos that are repeatedly seen in our economic activities should be abolished and I’ll make your dreams for a better society come true,” she said. “In such working circumstances, plenty of quality jobs will be created and every one of you will be able benefit from economic growth.”