Often found at theaters and museums, Kwon Mee-yoo has covered a wide range of cultural fields from K-pop and dramas to theater and fine art for over a decade. Now as K-Culture Desk editor, she tries to connect Korean culture with global readers through fresh perspectives.
Will Yoon meet with Park Geun-hye?
Former President Park Geun-hye announces her endorsement of her aide and lawyer, Yoo Young-ha, for Daegu's mayoral primary, in a video released on Yoo's YouTube channel, Friday. It was her first political statement after being pardoned and released from prison last December. Yonhap
By Kwon Mee-yoo
By Kwon Mee-yoo
President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol picked Daegu in North Gyeongsang Province, a traditional conservative stronghold, as the first stop on his regional tour, and all eyes are on whether he will hold a meeting with disgraced former President Park Geun-hye, who now resides in Daegu, after having been pardoned. Yoon is expected to begin his tour across the country starting next week.
Yoon's spokesperson, Bae Hyun-jin, announced on Friday that Yoon will begin his tour across the country starting next week by visiting Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province.
"Yoon has met with 17 mayors and governors and familiarized himself with the major projects and issues of each region. He will tour the nation to thank voters and keep promises he made during the presidential campaign," Bae said, emphasizing that regional development is one of Yoon's key pledges.
When asked whether Yoon will pay a courtesy visit to Park, Bae answered that the transition committee is reviewing the issue but that nothing is decided yet.
If Yoon meets Park in Daegu, it might provide an opportunity to resolve an old conflict between them.
Back in 2016, when Yoon was a senior prosecutor, he investigated corruption, influence peddling, and abuse of power allegations against Choi Soon-sil, Park's close confidante, which led to both Park and Choi being tried and ultimately sentenced to jail.
Ex-president Park was impeached and sentenced to 22 years on charges of corruption, bribery and the abuse of power, and then pardoned on Dec. 31 after four years and nine months behind bars. She was officially pardoned by current President Moon Jae-in while hospitalized, released in late March and subsequently headed to her new residence in Daegu.
When Park moved into her new residence in Daegu on March 24, Yoon sent Seo Il-jun, from the presidential transition committee with a gift and a message to congratulate Park on the recovery of her health and promising to pay a visit to Park soon.
Meanwhile, today, ex-president Park declared her endorsement for her aide and lawyer Yoo Young-ha, who announced his bid to run for Daegu mayor in the upcoming June 1 local elections. This endorsement is her first political move after being pardoned and released from prison.
In a video message on Yoo's YouTube channel, Park said, "I believe that Yoo will make my unfulfilled dreams come true in his hometown, Daegu."
Other than her endorsement of Yoo, Park did not mention President-elect Yoon or other political issues in the video.
After Park publicly endorsed Yoo, the other Daegu mayoral candidates who plan to run in the primary of the People Power Party (PPP) objected to Park trying to influence the local elections. Seasoned politician Rep. Hong Joon-pyo, who has also announced his bid for Daegu mayor, criticized the city's mayoral race for being transforming into a space where, rather than candidates competing on the basis of their policies, they are competing based on their personal connections with the former president and president-elect.