LKP's Park Geun-hye loyalists demand her release
A group of supporters of jailed former President Park Geun-hye hold a rally in front of Cheong Wa Dae, Tuesday, calling for her immediate release from prison. Yonhap
By Park Ji-won
A group of loyalists of jailed former President Park Geun-hye belonging to the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) are demanding her release citing her deteriorating health. However, the ruling and other opposition parties are opposed to the idea.
LKP Chairman Hwang Kyo-ahn, who served as the prime minister and justice minister under the Park administration, said Wednesday, “Park has been locked in a prison cell for a long time, and this is tough for a woman. No other former president has been imprisoned for this long.”
“As she is sick and facing difficult circumstances, I hope that the peoples’ wish to free her will be realized soon.”
His remarks came after Yoo Young-ha, Park’s lawyer, submitted a petition to the Seoul Central Prosecutors’ Office, Wednesday, asking for Park’s immediate release for medical treatment.
According to the Criminal Procedure Act, the prosecution can request the Ministry of Justice to temporarily suspend a prisoner’s sentence when their health seriously deteriorates behind bars.
Park, the predecessor of President Moon Jae-in, was detained March 31, 2017, and later imprisoned for 25 years after she was convicted of abuse of power and on corruption charges.
Park’s supporters in the LKP have been demanding her release since her imprisonment. After Hwang took over the party leadership in February, pro-Park figures have become more vocal on the issue.
Their demand grew stronger after South Gyeongsang Province Governor Kim Kyoung-soo, a long-time confidant of Moon, was released on bail pending an appeal. Kim was found guilty in January on charges of rigging public opinion during the 2017 presidential race.
Insiders say the LKP’s move is likely to attract the support of people sympathizing with Park ahead of the general election next year. A Realmeter survey showed Thursday that support for the LKP was 32 percent while that for the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) was 37.6 percent.
Rep. Hong Moon-jong, a key Park loyalist, urged the party to take measures to free Park in a move to attract conservative votes ahead of the election.
“The LKP is talking about unifying conservatives to win next year’s election. It is not politically acceptable for the party to keep silent about Park’s release.”
Citing Park’s deteriorating health, Rep. Min Kyung-wook, an LKP spokesman, urged President Moon Jae-in, Tuesday, to make a “favorable decision” on Park for national harmony.
Meanwhile, the other political parties were critical about the call for Park’s release as not many supported it.
Rep. Hong Ik-pyo, vice spokesman of the DPK, rejected the proposal saying “It is not worth talking about.”
Lee Jong-chul, a spokesman of the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party also said in a statement: “It is too early to talk about a stay of execution as there is no national consensus on Park.”