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.
Hwang Kyo-ahn faces eligibility questions
Former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn declares his candidacy for the leadership of the main opposition Liberty Korean Party (LKP) at the party's headquarters in Seoul, Tuesday. The LKP will elect its new leader at its Feb. 27 national convention. / Yonhap
By Park Ji-won
By Park Ji-won
Controversy over former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn's eligibility to be a candidate for the conservative party's leadership race is growing.
To counter this, the main opposition Liberty Korea Party's (LKP) Election Commission issued an authoritative statement Tuesday that said the former prime minister and ex-Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon could run for the leadership if the party's acting governing body approved.
“We ask the governing body to grant applicants the right to run for leadership of the LKP at the upcoming national convention if they have paid deposits for their election campaigns and submitted their membership application as per party rules,” Park Kwan-yong, the commission chief for the national convention said Tuesday.
Kim Byoung-joon, leader of the LKP's reform committee, acting as a supreme decision-making body said, “It is not possible to reverse the decision of the Election Commission.”
The controversy over Hwang's bid may continue as some contenders disagree with the decision.
Some including former LKP leader Hong Joon-pyo, who is expected to join the race Wednesday, claimed that Hwang cannot run for leadership as he doesn't have voting rights.
“It is nonsense for him to talk about his candidacy as he is not listed in voter lists meaning, he is not eligible to become a candidate,” Hong said Monday on Facebook.
Other possible contenders such as Reps. Shim Jae-cheol and Kim Jin-tae, said he was not eligible for the leadership because he didn't meet the qualifications as a candidate according to a party rule that says a person must pay membership fees for more than three months to become eligible for an election.
Criticism continued over his connection with Park Geun-hye with people saying he should take responsibility for her corruption scandal. Hwang was a key figure in the Park administration, serving as justice minister, prime minister and acting president.
“Former Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn is another Park Geun-hye,” Rep. Park Jie-won of the minor Party for Democracy and Peace said during a radio interview.
“It is wrong for him to run for the leadership without self-reflection and apologizing to the people for the past as he has endless responsibility.”