Park Geun-hye Wearing a 'Navy' Coat to Vote, Support for Lee?..."Not at All, Just Clothes She Was Wearing" Denies

On March 12, 2017, former President Park Geun-hye wearing a navy coat as she left the Blue House and moved to her residence in Samseong-dong, Seoul (left), and on March 21, 2017, arriving at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office in Seocho-gu, Seoul, wearing the same coat and getting out of the car. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Sumi] Former President Park Geun-hye wearing a navy coat while casting her early vote has sparked interpretations that she might be expressing support for Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea. However, Park's side firmly denied this, stating, "There was absolutely no such intention."

On the morning of the 5th, former President Park completed early voting near Samsung Seoul Hospital, where she is currently hospitalized. According to an election official, Park entered the polling station on foot without using a wheelchair. She wore her hair tied back and donned a navy coat.

In this context, some pro-government figures interpreted Park's attire as an expression of support for candidate Lee, citing that she wore navy, the color symbolizing the Democratic Party.

Food columnist Hwang Kyo-ik wrote on Facebook that day, "Navy is called 'Deep blue' in English, a dark and deep shade of blue."

Park Si-young, CEO of the polling firm WinG Korea, who publicly supports candidate Lee, also commented, "Park Geun-hye wearing a 'navy coat' to vote, Hong Joon-pyo wearing a 'blue mask' to vote?could this be revealing their true feelings?"

The YouTube channel Open Sympathy TV posted on Facebook, "Even during her time as a member of the National Assembly, she was known to communicate through fashion and clothing colors, showing sensitivity to the alignment of outfit colors and messages." They added, "It will be interesting to see what the People Power Party, which protested when an election official wore blue gloves suggesting a particular party, will say about former President Park Geun-hye voting while wearing a blue coat."

In response, Park's side drew a clear line, saying, "This is completely untrue." Park's lawyer Yoo Young-ha explained regarding the navy coat, "It is the same coat she wore when attending the prosecution and the warrant hearings. She wore this coat when going to the detention center, so the clothing and other items were stored there."

Meanwhile, the color of gloves worn by early voting officials also became an issue as it was seen to evoke a particular political party.

According to the Gangwon Province Election Commission on the 4th, on the first day of early voting, election officials at 196 early voting stations across the province wore latex gloves as a COVID-19 prevention measure while performing their duties.

However, the gloves were in a shade of blue associated with the Democratic Party, sparking controversy. The People Power Party's Gangwon Provincial Office raised concerns, stating that most early voting officials in the province wore blue latex gloves while working.

A representative of the People Power Party's Gangwon Provincial Office protested, saying, "The election commission, which must maintain political neutrality, using blue gloves symbolizing a specific party undermines election neutrality."

In response, the Gangwon Province Election Commission explained, "We distributed protective equipment purchased in bulk by the Central Election Commission to early voting stations without any particular intention," adding, "We have replaced or are in the process of replacing them with transparent vinyl gloves."