By Kim Tae-gyu
President Park Geun-hye shows a political adroitness by which she can turn any given situation to her advantage. Park doesn’t speak much but is often to the point.
The latest example is her comment Monday on what she obviously considers to be “verbal abuse” recently made by opposition party members aimed at her and her dead father.
“Foul language has generated many problems in our society thus far and it is regrettable that they still show no signs of disappearing,” Park said during a weekly meeting with her senior secretaries.
“Words show a speaker’s personality and what those representing the country say is directly related to the national status.”
Apparently, her remarks were responses to the verbal attacks of Rep. Hong Ihk-pyo of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP), who recently dubbed Park’s late father, former authoritarian leader Park Chung-hee, as one who should not have been born.
On Sunday, Rep. Lee Hae-chan of the DP also claimed that President Park should not remain silent about the National Intelligence Service’s alleged involvement in the 2012 presidential election through posting online comments critical to opposition candidates.
He said that the Park family is strongly associated with the spy agency because her father was responsible for creating its predecessor and was shot dead by a spy chief appointed by senior Park himself.
“I hope that there will be no more verbal abuse undermining national unity and reconciliation so that we will be able to open up an era of decent politics where all of us can exist together,” she said.
Watchers said that her comments showcase her personality nurtured as a daughter of a long-serving state head and later as a de facto first lady.
“I understand why Park came up with the remarks. She might be embarrassed by the hate speech. On top of that, she seems to get angry by someone who does not care about the decency of politicians,” Prof. Sohn Tae-gyu at Dankook University said.
“Along the same line, she pays close attention to the diplomatic protocol, etiquette and national status as amply demonstrated by her efforts during her overseas trips since her inauguration this February.”
Park flew to the United States in early May and China last month. Her visits were evaluated as successful thanks to her efforts in preparing for them in advance and thoughtful consideration of her counterparts.
Park grew up as a daughter of former President Park Chung-hee, who ruled the country for almost two decades in the 1960s and 70s before being killed by his spy chief in 1979.
Since her mother was murdered by a pro-North Korean assassin in 1974, President Park played the role of first lady through 1979. During this period, she said that she had many opportunities to learn political etiquette and diplomatic protocol.