Park expresses regret throught aide

By Kang Seung-woo

President Park Geun-hye, currently recovering from fatigue, expressed regret Tuesday over the resignation of Prime Minister Lee Wan-koo through her public relations chief.

But there was no apology, something the opposition and some of the ruling party urged her to make.

Instead, she took a shot at the New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), taking issue with the Roh Moo-hyun administration’s special pardons for former Keangnam Enterprises Chairman Sung Woan-jong ― the central figure in the nation-rocking corruption scandal involving her confidants. This drew a backlash from the main opposition party as key figures of the NPAD worked for the Roh government.

“In order to minimize adverse effects from the bribery allegations on state affairs, I accepted the prime minister’s resignation,” Park said through her senior secretary for public relations, Kim Sung-woo, at a briefing. Park is recovering from stomach cramps and a sore throat incurred during a 12-day overseas trip to South America that ended Monday.

Lee offered his resignation on April 20, following allegations that he took 30 million won ($28,000) in illegal political funds from Sung in 2013, and Park accepted it.

Her expression of regret came amid intensifying calls from rival parties for the President to state her position on the issue. Even some of the ruling camp demanded Park make a national apology.

“There can be two types of apologies from Park. She will have to apologize when those who are linked to the scandal plead guilty, or say sorry for causing concerns over the allegations,” said Hangil Research director Hong Hyeong-sik.

“However, the investigation is still underway and she does not have to apologize one day ahead of the by-elections.”

He added that, at this point, an expression of regret was the easiest option to handle the scandal that also involves Park’s three chiefs of staff and high-profile politicians.

Currently, the rival parties are engaged in a blame game regarding who wielded leverage on Sung’s two special pardons granted in 2005 and 2007 under the Roh government, after he was found guilty of embezzlement and the misappropriation of corporate funds.

“Sung’s consecutive special pardons are hard for the people to understand. They undermined the rule of law and eventually affected the nation’s economy adversely,” Park said.

“Such treatments sowed the seeds for the scandal that should not have happened.”

Hong said that the remarks regarding the special pardon may be the biggest stick in the NPAD's throat.

“The Sung scandal failed to take center stage during the by-elections campaigns because of the special pardon issue,” Hong said.

“Although the NPAD may criticize Park and the ruling party for watering down the scandal, it is questionable if its claim can convince the people.”

The NPAD called her remarks, “a declaration of war against the opposition party.”

“The President’s confidants are allegedly linked to the graft scandal, but she refused to take responsibility for the allegations and instead called the opposition party to account,” NPAD lawmaker Jun Byung-hun said during a party meeting.

Lee Choon-suak, another NPAD lawmaker, said, “I wonder if the statement was made by a head of state or a spokesman of the Saenuri Party.”

In contrast, the Saenuri Party praised Park’s statement for making clear her firm decision that there should be a thorough investigation into the scandal and political reform. In addition, they welcomed the quick statement ahead of today’s by-elections, with four parliamentary seats up for grabs.

“Her expression of regret for causing concern over the premier’s resignation was a proper remark. That is all she can do,” Saenuri Party Chairman Kim Moo-sung told reporters at the National Assembly.

“The President accepted the opinions that the party had conveyed and despite being sick, she promptly reflected them in the statement.”