By Kang Hyun-kyung
Rep. Park Geun-hye of the ruling Saenuri Party, once an unrivaled presidential hopeful, has been weathering the tough times this month as a triple challenge came nearly simultaneously, threatening her presidential bid.
Her ratings are falling. Rivals from within as well as the main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) are stepping up their offensive to discredit the leading candidate and rumors and allegations are spreading fast to undermine her public image.
In a radio interview Tuesday, Rep. Hong Il-pyo, a new spokesman of the ruling Saenuri Party, said members of the ruling party were deeply worried over the prospect of the ruling party winning the presidential election slated for Dec. 19.
The campaign landscape has changed a lot after the money-for-nomination scandal pounded the ruling party. An aide to Rep. Hyun Young-hee alleged that the lawmaker offered money in return for a proportional representation seat ahead of the April 11 National Assembly elections.
Rep. Park served as chairwoman of the ruling party back then, calling for transparent selections of candidates to run in the April elections.
Her rivals tried to link the corruption case to frontrunner candidate Park in order to discredit her. Although the daughter of the late President Park Chung-hee might not be directly related to the scandal, they claimed, she needs to take responsibility for it as she led the party at the time.
Park was also troubled as other rumors spread rapidly as the primary season is in full swing.
One of the rumors said the politician, who had never been married before, had a daughter.
It goes that her 30-year-old daughter lives in Japan to hide her identity and came to Seoul years ago to nurse Park when she was hospitalized after being attacked by a man during her campaign speech in Seoul for the local elections.
Kim Moon-soo, governor of Gyeonggi Province, used video footage including an image of Park and the late pastor Choi Tae-min for the campaign material before his speech at the joint rally of the ruling party presidential hopefuls held in Seoul Monday.
Park stressed that the late pastor was her mentor and there was no such thing as an extramarital affair or other inappropriate elements between them.
Park said she was so disturbed recently as such groundless allegations are running rampant. Despite this, a grim-faced Park said, she would survive.
Meanwhile, Park’s ratings keep going down, whereas those of Ahn continue to rise.
A recent Gallup poll found support for Park is 43 percent, while Seoul National University Professor Ahn Cheol-soo’s rate is 42. The IT mogul has yet to declare his presidential bid.
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