Boasting high-profile figures and mammoth organizational power, the campaign machine of Saenuri Party candidate Park Geun-hye is overflowing, enthusiastic and boisterous.

Her team is comprised of some of the nation’s most influential politicians, seasoned bureaucrats, high-flying business executives and prominent experts.

From the outset of her campaign, Park prioritized unity and reform in her personnel decisions, leading to recruitment from all walks of life and both sides of the political spectrum, from a retired top judge to a former political foe. 

The risky appointments prompted heavy internal resistance at times, forcing Park to adjust her decisions or mediate between the bickering members.

For her closest assistance and the campaign’s overall supervision, Park relied on the so-called pro-Park members and long-time comrades, inciting criticism from opponents for being “out-of-touch” with the trend of change.

As the race against DUP presidential candidate Moon Jae-in and independent Ahn Cheol-soo gets down to a competition of pledges amid intensifying negative campaigning, it remains to be seen whether “Team Park” will prove to be up to par.

Its effectiveness is all the more important as the makeup of the election committee usually ties into the composition of a transition committee upon a successful election.

Many of Park’s key aides are incumbent lawmakers. They have been by her side since her failed 2007 primary against President Lee Myung-bak. Many of these parliamentary members have experience as an economic expert or administrator. They are usually described more as her loyal supporters, rather than sharp-tongued advisors. 

The newest members inside Park’s campaign team, however, are Kim Chong-in and Ahn Dae-hee, respectively heading the Committee to Pursue People’s Happiness and the Special Committee on Political Reform.

Neither has personal ties with Park but enjoy immense power within the campaign as key policymakers.

Economist-turned-politician Kim Chong-in joined Park’s team way before the others, as the standout advocate of economic democratization, the keyword of this year’s election.

Kim included the phrase in the Constitution in 1987 as the head of the committee for constitutional revision of economic clauses. Kim not only oversees economic policymaking but the overall pledges drawn up by the different teams.

He has served as a proportional lawmaker representing both the ruling and opposition parties for four terms. Opponents use this to charge that he has no political philosophy. The fact that his career thrived in the 1980s when the economic concentration of the chaebol was at its height is also used to question his merit as the promulgator of economic democratization. His biggest weakness is his conviction in 1993 for having received around 200 million won in bribes. Kim, nonetheless, is considered the biggest contributor to Park’s economic democratization drive.

Ahn Dae-hee, former Supreme Court justice, is probably one of those Park worked the hardest to recruit. Showing her determination for political reform, Park brought in Ahn, who led an all-out clampdown on illegal political funds in 2003 that hit the then-Grand National Party hardest. Ironically, the probe was Park’s first opportunity to prove her leadership by leading the party out of the quagmire to an election win.

He emphasizes that he did not join for political aspiration but for reform.

“I plan to leave Yeouido (politics) the day after the presidential election,” Ahn had said.

An unusually sharp-tongued aide of Park is professor Lee Sang-don, who is a member of the Special Committee on Political Reform headed by Ahn. He joined Park when she led the party’s emergency committee last year. Lee remains openly critical of Park’s interpretation of history that invites consistent denouncement from the progressives.

Devising economic pledges under Kim Chong-in is Kim Kwang-doo, former president of Park’s think tank Nation’s Future Research Center. He is in charge of seeking the growth engine for the economy. The two Kims therefore are said to often butt heads. Rep. Rhee Chong-hoon, a former member of the research center is also a member of the Committee to Pursue People’s Happiness, in charge of plans to create jobs.

Another key new member is former lawmaker Kim Moo-sung, who emerged after Park’s right-hand man Rep. Choi Kyung-hwan stepped to the sidelines upon escalating internal strife. Kim Moo-sung made his dramatic return last month as Park’s relief pitcher, helping her regroup after being dogged by rising internal protest against her choice of aides. He had closely worked with Park in her 2007 bid before their fallout.

“I will serve as a commoner and will not accept any designated post (even after Park begins her administration),” Kim had said.

Within a week, Kim secured control over the campaign team, and reportedly told Park, “I will not report to you every little detail, and will take care of it myself.” Park reportedly was elated, responding, “Please do so.” A staunch conservative with a strong initiative and drive, Kim is in charge of the overall campaign operation as the chief of the General Election Measures Headquarters.

Kwon Young-se, another pro-Park member who had supported Park during the April general elections campaign, has returned as the head of the Situation Room, presiding over a 9 a.m. meeting daily and supervising campaign strategies, planning and messages.

Those said to read Park’s mind the best are her long-time aide Lee Jae-man and special assistant for planning and adjustment Choi We-chool, a Yeungnam University professor. Both assisted Park throughout her 15-year political career. Lee Jae-man leads the pack of three other long-time aides, Lee Choon-sang (public relations), Jeong Ho-seong (political affairs and messages) and Ahn Bong-geun (schedule), all of whom have stuck by Park since her political debut in 1998. Choi We-chool recently headed the research center for leadership of late Park Chung-hee, former president and Park’s father.

Reps. An Chong-bum and Kang Seog-hoon are also her devoted aides who have researched Park’s policies and drafted new pledges since her failed bid five years ago. The duo have recently been moved to Park’s secretariat.

Chief secretary Rep. Lee Hag-jae, meanwhile, is in charge of Park’s schedule. He not only acts as a confidential liaison for Park but also delivers advice and public opinion on critical issues to Park.

Communications chief Lee Jung-hyun is said to receive the most phone calls from the presidential candidate on a daily basis, and is in charge of dealing with negative offensives. He, however, has lately been slammed for his controversial proposal that the DUP accept a bill by the Saenuri Party to obligate the return of government subsidies given to partisan candidate in exchange for the ruling party agreeing to extend voting hours.

The two key men on Park’s foreign policy and defense team, meanwhile, are both from the Roh Moo-hyun administration.

Park’s foreign affairs and security vision is detailed by Yun Byung-se, former diplomat and senior presidential secretary for security policy.

Former Defense Minister Kim Jang-soo, who is keen on implementing military reform, is in charge of defense. He served as a proportional representative for the then-Grand National Party in the 18th Assembly.

Park Myung-sung, president of Seensee Musical Company, takes care of Park’s culture and arts policies. He accompanied Park throughout her primary as special advisor on culture and has acted as a member of the nomination committee for general elections.

As for her senior advisors, former finance minister Kim Yong-hwan is a key figure. It was reported Kim was the one that helped bring in former DUP chairman Han Gwang-ok. The designation of Han to highlight unity was met with strong protest from her own campaign team, namely Ahn Dae-hee, for his past irregularities. Park was forced to lower Han’s role as the chief vice chairman of the Committee for Korea’s 100 percent and Grand Unity, and take his original place as the chairperson herself.

Park also chairs the Committee for Campaign Pledges, which is in charge of verifying the implementation of each pledge.

“The committee is created in order to take responsible measures to implement the promises made to the people, and I will personally head the body to take care of each pledge,” Park had said.

The entire election committee is co-represented by four including Saenuri Party chairman Hwang Woo-yea, former Constitutional Court Chief Justice Kim Yong-joon, Sungjoo Group CEO Kim Sung-joo and Rep. Chung Mong-joon.

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