Park Ji-won is a writer for The Korea Times who has been covering a wide range of topics from Korea’s culture to its politics. An avid journalism enthusiast to the core, Ji-won brings a thoughtful and unique perspective to every topic she covers. On weekends, you'll often find her contemplating life’s purpose on a yoga mat — with a cup of quality tea in hand. A native Korean speaker by birth and fluent in English through her work, she went to college in Japan and is learning Chinese and French — hoping to add Polish, Russian and Thai to the mix.
Ex-PM Hwang to declare bid to lead LKP today
Hwang Kyo-ahn, former prime minister and acting president under the Park Geun-hye administration, speaks during a meeting with the main opposition Liberty Korea Party members in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, Monday. Hwang plans to declare his bid for the conservative party leadership on Tuesday amid uncertainties over his eligibility. Yonhap
By Park Ji-won
By Park Ji-won
Former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn plans to announce a bid for the chairmanship of the largest conservative Liberty Korea Party (LKP), Tuesday, despite a controversy over his eligibility.
“I will join the LKP leadership race tomorrow,” Hwang, a key aide to former President Park Geun-hye, said on Facebook Monday.
“It is a challenge with the people to protect the liberal democracy with my responsibility and sacrifice.”
The LKP plans to hold a national convention on Feb. 27 to select its new leader and other members of the decision-making Supreme Council. The LKP leadership post has been vacant since previous chairman Hong Joon-pyo stepped down to take responsibility for the party's defeat in the June 2018 local elections.
It was uncertain whether Hwang could participate in the race as he was new to the party. However, Rep. Han Sun-kyo, the chair of the national convention, said Hwang and former Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon are eligible candidates after discussing it at the LKP's general meeting. Some LKP members oppose Hwang's bid, claiming it is against the party's rules.
Former LKP leader Hong Joon-pyo and Oh will likely announce their candidacy for the post on Wednesday.
Hong has been expanding his footprint with his YouTube channel TV Hongka Cola since the end of last year. Oh, meanwhile, is on his way to broadening his political base by holding meetings with party members across the country. He rejoined the LKP in November after years of absence from the political scene after he voluntarily resigned from his mayoral position in 2011.
Recent polls showed that conservative voters like Hwang the most as a presidential contender for the 2022 race.
According to local pollster Realmeter Monday, the LKP's approval rating reached 26.7 percent, up 2.4 percentage points from the previous week marking the highest level in 27 months. The pollster said the rise was followed by the increased media reports regarding the LKP's national convention to pick its new leader.
The LKP had been embattled by a corruption scandal involving former President Park Geun-hye, who was impeached in March 2017.