By Kang Seung-woo
President Park Geun-hye is facing allegations that she has already meddled in the April 13 general election by rallying support for loyalists to her that are vying to run in the election.
Park visited Daegu, her political stronghold on Thursday, which was regarded as a bid to give a much-needed boost to her former aides who are preparing to stand as candidates to represent the city in the election, scheduled for April 13.
In addition, a report last week that Rep. Lee Hahn-koo, the Saenuri Party's nomination committee head, met secretly with Hyun Ki-hwan, the senior presidential secretary for political affairs, is backing up the allegations because it suggests Cheong Wa Dae tried to exert influence on the party's nomination process.
Park's office denied the allegations by saying the President's trip was related to issues of economics, not politics. It also dismissed the report, denying that any such secret meetings took place.
"Still having the nomination process for the city's districts ahead, I wonder if she should have gone there at such a sensitive time, which ended up creating controversy. Even if the importance of her aides earning tickets to stand for the election is considered, the trip seems inappropriate," said Cho Jin-man, a political science professor at Duksung Women's University.
While in Daegu, Park visited three places, two of which are constituencies, where loyalists, including former Home Affairs Minister Chong Jong-Sup, have thrown down the gauntlet against the incumbent lawmakers, regarded as members of a minority faction within the party.
Before President Park made a trip there, those candidates were trailing behind their rivals, but now they are expected to receive a boost, political analysts believe.
Park's visit is already providing fodder for a political offensive from the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK).
"President Park labored to keep the bids of pro-Park candidates alive," said MPK floor leader Lee Jong-kul on Monday.
"Her Daegu trip was an apparent political gesture to rally support for pro-Park candidates, while calling on her supporters in Daegu to judge the rival faction."
En route to the general election, President Park plans to visit other cities as part of her efforts to foster a more creative Korean economy and may use these excursions as opportunities to support her loyalists.
However, political analysts say that her visit to other places would not live up to expectations.
"Such moves may give the impression that the President gives support only to a specific faction of a party, so it may cause adverse effects to the ruling party," said Yoon Hee-woong, a senior researcher at Opinion Live.
Cho also expects the effect to be minimal in the parliamentary election.
"There are many complaints of the Park administration in other places, including the capital area, so her possible visits will not have as big an influence as they didi in Daegu," he said.
President Park Geun-hye is facing allegations that she has already meddled in the April 13 general election by rallying support for loyalists to her that are vying to run in the election.
Park visited Daegu, her political stronghold on Thursday, which was regarded as a bid to give a much-needed boost to her former aides who are preparing to stand as candidates to represent the city in the election, scheduled for April 13.
In addition, a report last week that Rep. Lee Hahn-koo, the Saenuri Party's nomination committee head, met secretly with Hyun Ki-hwan, the senior presidential secretary for political affairs, is backing up the allegations because it suggests Cheong Wa Dae tried to exert influence on the party's nomination process.
Park's office denied the allegations by saying the President's trip was related to issues of economics, not politics. It also dismissed the report, denying that any such secret meetings took place.
"Still having the nomination process for the city's districts ahead, I wonder if she should have gone there at such a sensitive time, which ended up creating controversy. Even if the importance of her aides earning tickets to stand for the election is considered, the trip seems inappropriate," said Cho Jin-man, a political science professor at Duksung Women's University.
While in Daegu, Park visited three places, two of which are constituencies, where loyalists, including former Home Affairs Minister Chong Jong-Sup, have thrown down the gauntlet against the incumbent lawmakers, regarded as members of a minority faction within the party.
Before President Park made a trip there, those candidates were trailing behind their rivals, but now they are expected to receive a boost, political analysts believe.
Park's visit is already providing fodder for a political offensive from the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK).
"President Park labored to keep the bids of pro-Park candidates alive," said MPK floor leader Lee Jong-kul on Monday.
"Her Daegu trip was an apparent political gesture to rally support for pro-Park candidates, while calling on her supporters in Daegu to judge the rival faction."
En route to the general election, President Park plans to visit other cities as part of her efforts to foster a more creative Korean economy and may use these excursions as opportunities to support her loyalists.
However, political analysts say that her visit to other places would not live up to expectations.
"Such moves may give the impression that the President gives support only to a specific faction of a party, so it may cause adverse effects to the ruling party," said Yoon Hee-woong, a senior researcher at Opinion Live.
Cho also expects the effect to be minimal in the parliamentary election.
"There are many complaints of the Park administration in other places, including the capital area, so her possible visits will not have as big an influence as they didi in Daegu," he said.
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