Declaring presidential bid, Park pushes jobs, welfare, economic  democratization


The ruling Saenuri Party’s frontrunner Rep. Park Geun-hye declared her presidential bid before a cheering crowd Tuesday at busy Times Square in Yeongdeungpo, western Seoul, pledging to share the citizens’ pain and bring contentment to their lives.

Flanked by around a thousand supporters who gathered in the sweltering heat, Park stepped onto the outdoor podium decorated with her symbolic color, red.
“I will devote my all to share your pain, solve your problems together and to create a Republic of Korea where every citizen can realize their dreams,” Park said.

Donned in a red jacket and grey pants, Park read out her declaration speech in a determined voice, “The paradigm of government administration must be shifted, from being centered around the state to pivot around the public, for the sake of individual’s life and happiness.”

This is the former chairwoman’s second presidential candidacy, following her failed bid in 2007 when she lost to in-party rival President Lee Myung-bak in the primary.

Park’s official entry into the presidential race is expected to heat up the competition among high-profile contenders, including main Democratic United Party candidates Moon Jae-in, former presidential chief-of-staff, and Kim Doo-kwan, former South Gyeongsang governor.

Born to former President Park Chung-hee, Park had an exceptional but tumultuous life growing up.

After her mother, first lady Yuk Young-soo, was assassinated in 1974 by Mun Segwang, a Japanese-born North Korean supporter, Park acted in her mother’s place next to her father in her early 20s. Upon the assassination of her father by Kim Jae-kyu, director of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency, in 1979, Park retreated from the public eye.

Park explained she decided against her initial wish to live a normal life and entered politics after seeing the ailing country during the foreign exchange crisis in 1997.

Park, during her speech, thanked her supporters for giving her strength at difficult times, including when she was attacked by a protester during a street rally in 2006 and her chin was cut with a knife.

As a fifth-term veteran lawmaker, Park accumulated her partisan support by saving the party from breakdowns, mainly in 2004 when the then-Grand National Party suffered angry public sentiment over its failed attempt to impeach then-President Roh Moo-hyun. Most recently, this year Park spearheaded the party’s reform to eventually win in the April 11 general elections.

She has also been enjoying a commanding lead in public polls by receiving around 40 percent of support against her rivals from both in and outside her party.

“Our politics at present are immersed in political strife and slander that are irrelevant to the pressing problems of the people and public livelihood. Politics have not only failed to make the citizens feel safe but even forced them to become concerned about security,” Park said.

As her camp members, dressed in neat suits with red accents looked on, Park proposed three big tasks: To realize economic democratization; create jobs; and establish a Korean welfare system.

“Through economic democratization, I will work to enable the economically weak, including small and medium-sized business owners, to see their dreams come true once again,” she said.

More specifically, Park added during a press conference later that she was open to reviewing ways to prohibit any new equity-sharing among affiliates in order to prevent family owners from holding wider control of subsidiaries than what they have actually invested.

The event, designed to underscore Park’s determination to “communicate with the public,” was guarded by a police force and bodyguards.

In a representation of the antithetical views on Park, who is criticized because of her father’s dictatorship in the 1960s and 70s, a group of protesters attempted to interrupt the event, which was prominently void of young supporters.

The protesters ranged from college students calling for tuition cuts, to those denouncing the latest push by the government to sign a defense pact with Japan.

Mitch Levine, an American member of People for Successful Corean Reunification, was also there to watch Park.

“I am here to support North Korean human rights. We are here because Park is the most prominent candidate,” he said.

As the protesters attempted to hold up their banners and chant their slogans, Park’s avid supporters tried to block them, with some even engaging in physical scuffles.

Park, who maintained calm throughout the event, also pledged to create trust between the two Koreas.

“I will take the first step toward a new Korean Peninsula of trust and peace, by severing the vicious cycle of distrust, confrontation and uncertainties between the two Koreas,” Park said.

“For this, I will promote a ‘process of trust on the Korean Peninsula,” she added.

Park later elaborated on her vision, explaining that humanitarian aid and reciprocal exchanges must be maintained regardless of political situation. She also commented that cooperation on various fields beyond North Korea’s nuclear problem was possible such as in dealing with climate change and environment crisis together.

Park also emphasized the need for influential conglomerates to fulfill their social responsibilities, and to create more jobs by fostering service, culture and software industries.

Through a “Citizen’s Happiness Plan,” Park pledged to enhance welfare and promote equal education, but did not get into details.

The official event wrapped up after Park sang along with selected citizens on stage, and was followed by the press conference held at the Courtyard by Marriott banquet room nearby.

Beaming with a smile, Park looked confident, writing down reporters’ questions on her infamous notepad before answering calmly. Her opponents have nicknamed her “Notepad Princess,” claiming she “merely memorizes what is on her notepad.”

“A line must be drawn between ‘difficulty in communication’ and ‘maintaining one’s conviction.’ The two are distinctively different,” Park said to a question on what she thought of criticism that it is difficult to get through to her. Park faced vehement criticism from her fellow Saenuri presidential hopefuls for refusing to introduce fully open primaries, which eventually led to two of her potential competitors Reps. Chung Mong-joon and Lee Jae-oh dropping out of the race Monday.

“I do not think that it is appropriate to denounce the other just because one could not see things happen (his) way,” she said.

To a question what this year’s presidential election meant to her, Park appeared to be briefly overwhelmed with emotion.

“I, without doubt, wish to achieve what I have been longing for. This is also my last chance.”

To a question on any advantages of her potentially becoming the first woman president in Korea, Park said, “It is important for any leader regardless of gender to be trustworthy and have the sense of responsibility to fulfill the tremendous tasks,” but added woman’s leadership should bring “plus-alpha” at a time where software is more important than hardware.

By Lee Joo-hee (jhl@heraldcorp.com)

Bae Hyun-jung and Lee Hee-su contributed to this report. ― Ed.