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Chooses former rival over independent Lee Hoi-chang
November 13, 2007
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She backed Grand National Party nominee Lee Myung-bak, though she won’t actively campaign for him, and criticized independent candidate Lee Hoi-chang for taking him on. Lee Myung-bak’s camp hailed the news, calling Park a “great politician.” Lee Hoi-chang, meanwhile, tried to hide his disappointment that Park chose the nominee of the party she once led over the man who stands closer to her ideologically. Both he and Park are considered more staunchly conservative than Lee Myung-bak. “Ms. Park probably had no other choice,” Lee Hoi-chang said in a press conference. “If I was in the GNP and someone asked me to answer that question [of whom she supported] I would have no choice but to answer that way.” He declined further comment. Park finally appeared in public yesterday when she stepped out from the iron gates of her house in Samseong-dong, southern Seoul. Reporters camping outside crowded around her. “My thought still remains,” she said. “I believe the GNP should take over the administration. I don’t think Mr. Lee Hoi-chang’s independent bid for the presidency is a righteous thing to do.” She continued, “I am a GNP member and there is no change in the fact that Mr. Lee Myung-bak is the official candidate of our party.” She shooed the reporters away, saying there has been no change in the situation.
“Does that mean then that the winner should be omnipotent and own the power for the nominations?” she said. “Nothing could be more outdated and frightening.” Park made her comments one day after Lee Myung-bak declared in public that he wanted to earn Park Geun-hye’s trust and that it was his fault the two had become rivals. He also vowed to keep the party’s platform in place. Still, Park declined to take a leading role in the campaign of her once-bitter rival. “I lost in the party primary, and I think I am helping a lot by simply submitting to the results and keeping quiet,” she said. “I could cause trouble for him by making public appearances.” Lee Myung-bak’s camp expressed happiness about the news. If Park had endorsed Lee Hoi-chang, it would have given his third bid for president a crucial boost. Park Hyeong-joon, Lee Myung-bak’s spokesman, praised Park, saying she emerged even stronger because of the tough GNP primary battle. But in a radio interview, Park, the spokesman, denied earlier reports that Park Geun-hye and Lee Myung-bak will come up with a written agreement that secures her followers legislative seats, or that Park Geun-hye will be named prime minister if Lee Myung-bak becomes president. Lee praised Park while he was on a campaign tour in Daegu and the North Gyeongsang Province area, the stronghold of Park and her father, the late President Park Chung Hee. Lee called Park Chung Hee a person who saved the country in despair, while Park Geun-hye saved a party in despair. He visited the elder Park’s birthplace and promised the mayor of Gumi, the hometown of the late president, that he will actively review the plan to build a “Park Chung Hee Memorial.” About 10 GNP lawmakers who supported Park showed up at the GNP campaign rally held at a gymnasium in Gumi yesterday. Yoo Seong-min, one of Park’s closest confidantes, was spotted chanting, “Lee Myung-bak for president.” By Lee Min-a Staff Writer/ Shin Yong-ho JoongAng Ilbo [mina@joongang.co.kr] |
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