Yoon meets impeached ex-president again to shore up conservative support

President Yoon Suk Yeol walks with former President Park Geun-hye during his visit to the ex-leader's residence in Daegu, Nov. 7. Courtesy of presidential office

President Yoon Suk Yeol paid a visit to former President Park Geun-hye in Daegu, Tuesday, in an apparent effort to shore up the support of conservative voters in the region.

According to presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon, Yoon met Park at her residence in the southeastern city after attending local events in the region.

The meeting, which lasted over an hour, came just 12 days after the two met at a memorial ceremony marking the 44th anniversary of the death of Park's father, former President Park Chung-hee.

Lee said Park cordially greeted Yoon, who expressed his respect for the late president's economic achievements.

"I look back at the policies of former President Park (Chung-hee) and learn lessons from his presidency and apply them to state affairs," Yoon was quoted as saying. "It is astonishing and wonderful how he could come up with such ideas at that time."

The late Park served as president from 1963 until he was assassinated on Oct. 26, 1979. He still commands huge support from conservatives in Korea despite contradicting assessments of his achievements in driving the country’s economic growth and industrialization from the ashes of the Korean War, while ruling with an iron fist.

Yoon's meeting with Park was viewed as an effort to shore up support in the region, which has long been a conservative stronghold.

Following the ruling People Power Party's (PPP) resounding defeat in a by-election to select a Seoul district mayor last month, Yoon has been making efforts to unite conservatives, particularly in their strongholds in the Gyeongsang provinces.

Yoon also has a thorny relationship with the junior Park. She served as president from 2013 to 2017 until she was impeached due to her involvement in a large corruption scandal, and Yoon was one of the lead prosecutors investigating her wrongdoings.

The mainstream faction within the PPP is made up of Yoon's loyalists, while those who were close to Park were sidelined. As a result, there were rumors that Park's loyalists are considering running as independent candidates in next year's general election, raising concerns over a rift within the conservative bloc.

Adding fuel to such concerns, former PPP Chairman Lee Jun-seok is widely expected to create a breakaway party comprised of outliers of the party, heralding a greater division among conservatives.

President Yoon Suk Yeol shakes hands with a shop owner at Chilseong Traditional Market in Daegu, Tuesday. Courtesy of presidential office

Against this backdrop, Yoon paid a visit to Chilseong Traditional Market in Daegu to meet vendors and small shop owners.

During a conversation with a grocery shop owner, Yoon said he will pay extra attention to shop owners and vendors at traditional markets and pledged to stabilize agricultural product prices.