Lee Hae-rin is a City Desk reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues, tourism and taekwondo. She is passionate about speaking up for the rights of minorities, including women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities and animals as well as discovering the latest makgeolli trend in town. Feel free to reach her at lhr@koreatimes.co.kr.
Ex-presidents pop up ahead of upcoming elections
Former President Moon Jae-in, right on front row, climbs Mount Gyeryong, Wednesday, with Byun Gwang-yong, left in front row, Democratic Party of Korea candidate running in Geoje in the April 10 general elections. Courtesy of Byun Gwang-yong
By Lee Hae-rin
Former presidents of Korea have been taking contrasting approaches to their political appearances, with less than two weeks to go before the April 10 general elections. Former liberal President Moon Jae-in has been active in supporting opposition candidates, while two former conservative presidents — Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak — have remained relatively quiet.
Moon, Friday, visited Sasang District of Busan, where he was previously elected as a lawmaker, to join the campaign of Bae Jae-jeung, a candidate of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK).
He also visited his hometown, Geoje of South Gyeongsang Province, wearing a blue jacket, Wednesday, and climbed Mount Gyeryong with former Geoje Mayor Byun Gwang-yong, who is running for a seat in the region.
Han Dong-hoon, left, interim leader of the ruling People Power Party, poses with former President Park Geun-hye at her residence in Daegu, Tuesday. Courtesy of People Power Party
Park Geun-hye, the disgraced former president and daughter of former dictator Park Chung-hee, has only been openly supportive of her close aide Yoo Yeong-ha, among ruling People Power Party (PPP) candidates. Yoo served as Park's attorney in the 2016 massive corruption scandal that ultimately led to her impeachment the same year.
Park met with PPP interim leader Han Dong-hoon at her residence in Daegu on Tuesday and requested unity among conservatives.
Former President Lee Myung-bak burns incense for the fallen soldiers of the 2010 sinking of the ROKS Cheonan at the Daejeon National Cemetery, Monday. Yonhap
Lee Myung-bak, another former president, has made no particular moves in supporting conservative candidates.
Instead, he visited the Daejeon National Cemetery on Monday, on the eve of the 14th anniversary of the sinking of the South Korean Navy corvette Cheonan, paying honor to fallen heroes.
“We shall never forget the Cheonan's fallen heroes’ love for their country and noble sacrifice,” he wrote in the visitor’s book at the cemetery.