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| President Park Geun-hye turns her head after finishing the Pledge of Allegiance at the 21st Cabinet meeting at the presidential office on May 13, 2014. Doctors speculate that the bruise on the right side of her mouth is a side effect of facial filler injections. Before the Cabinet meeting, Park had no official schedule for three days. / Korea Times file |
By Park Si-soo, Lee Jin-a, Hong Dam-young
There is hard evidence suggesting President Park Geun-hye did "something" to beautify her face while people were overwhelmed with deep sadness and sense of loss from the Sewol ferry tragedy in April 2014.
Hankook Ilbo, sister paper of The Korea Times, examined nearly 40,000 photos taken on the tragic day of April 16 and afterward and discovered a small but visible bruise, despite makeup, on the right corner of Park's mouth that doctors claim was caused by an invasive facelift treatment such as filler. Other forms of post-surgery marks were also visible around her mouth in some photos.
The bruise was seen in photos taken during Park's meeting with Cabinet members on May 13, 2014. A bruise was noticeable in the same spot in photos taken in August 2014 and December 2015.
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On May 14, 2014, Park gives a congratulatory speech at the 60th anniversary of The National Academy of Sciences. Her bruise has faded but is still noticeable. / Korea Times file |
More than 300 people, mostly high school students, were killed when the ferry sank on April 16, 2014, sparking overwhelming sadness in the country. Ironically, the students lost their lives for complying with the captain's order to stay in their cabins. What was heartbreaking was that the passengers had enough time to flee the doomed vessel, but they opted to stay as instructed, believing the captain would be with them until their escape. But the captain, Lee Jun-seok, fled the vessel on the first rescue boat.
Some may doubt whether it is appropriate for the President to be criticized harshly for having beauty treatment amid a disaster she was not responsible for directly. But others say, imagine a state leader playing golf with friends while you lost everything in a landslide that washed away your home and family.
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| On May 16, 2014, Park invited family members of Sewol ferry victims to Cheong Wa Dae. Her bruise was lighter than four days ago. / Korea Times file |
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| On May 9, 2014, Park, left, held an emergency meeting to deal with the economic slump prompted by the Sewol ferry disaster. A deep line at the right side of Park's lip is noticeable. On May 13, center, a bruise is visible on the same spot. Speculation is rising that she received filler injections on the spot between May 10 and 12. Six days later, Park made a nationally televised address. The picture on May 19 shows the spot is smooth and clear. / Korea Times file |
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| On Dec. 28, 2015, Park met senior secretaries at her office. This time, a larger bruise can be seen on the right side of her lips. Before the meeting, Park had no official schedule for three days. / Korea Times file |
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| Park watches sports performances at the K-Art Hall in Olympic Park in southern Seoul on Dec. 30, 2015. The bruise is still visible on her face. / Korea Times file |
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| Two marks, seemingly traces of filler injection, are visible on both sides of Park's lips at a press conference for New Year on Jan. 6, 2014. Doctors view the marks as indications of beauty surgery using injections. / Korea Times file |
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| Park delivers a speech during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the newly built Busan International Finance Center in the city's Nam-gu district on Aug. 22, 2014. Tiny scars on both sides of her lips are visible. / Korea TImes file |
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| While Park urges ruling Saenuri Party leaders to hasten passing a bill at Cheong Wa Dae on Dec. 7, 2015, four tiny marks -- two on each side of her lips -- are clearly visible. / Korea TImes file |
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| The photo on the left shows Park giving a national address on Mar. 4, 2013, at her inauguration. The one on the right shows Park delivering her third apologetic speech, on Nov. 29, 2016, over the influence-peddling scandal surrounding her confidant Choi Soon-sil. Plastic surgeons and dermatologists say Park could have periodically received beauty treatment such as Botox and filler for wrinkles, and skincare using dye laser. / Korea Times file |
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