Yu Yeongha: "Park has no reason to enter politics... It is up to Daegu citizens to decide"

Park 공개한 'Yoo Young-ha Support' 메시지 on the 8th

Attorney Yoo Young-ha announced his intention to run for mayor of Daegu at the Daegu branch of the People Power Party on the morning of the 1st. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Yoo Young-ha, a lawyer who officially declared his candidacy for Daegu mayor in the upcoming June 1 local elections, drew a clear line regarding former President Park Geun-hye, stating that "she will never enter politics." Yoo, who has previously acted as Park's legal representative, has been receiving full support from her since announcing his candidacy.

In an interview with the 'Daegu Newspaper' on the 10th, Yoo said about Park, "Of course, she will not engage in politics," but added, "However, whatever she says can be political."

Regarding Park's side releasing a support message for Yoo through a YouTube video, he said, "I also watched the video, but honestly, it is more than I deserve," and claimed, "It reflects the president's own heartfelt regrets, which appeared as a video endorsement."

He continued, "It is neither more nor less than that, and it is up to those interpreting it, the citizens of Daegu, to judge," adding, "Former President Park has not practically entered politics. As a senior figure in South Korean politics, she can comment on current issues."

Earlier, Park, who was discharged from the hospital at the end of last month and returned to her residence in Daegu, broke her silence after about two weeks on the 8th by releasing an official message. In the video released on Yoo's YouTube channel 'Yoo Young-ha TV,' Park said, "Although I have not achieved all the dreams I wanted, Candidate Yoo will fulfill the unfinished dreams on my behalf."

Former President Park Geun-hye expressed support for Attorney Yoo Young-ha on the YouTube channel 'Yoo Young-ha TV' / Photo by YouTube capture

Regarding the background of her support for Yoo, she explained, "Although it was also at Yoo's request, it was a meeting of minds. He stood by me during the most difficult and painful five years. Even when everyone I knew left and denied our ties, he silently endured the hard times by my side without wavering, bearing criticism without a single word," she said.

Yoo is known as Park's closest aide who defended her during the so-called 'state manipulation' trial and was the only person to visit her while she was imprisoned. Over the past five years, he has served as Park's legal representative and, in effect, her spokesperson.

After the message was released, some in the political sphere criticized it as an attempt to gain the backing of a former president. On the 8th, Hong Joon-pyo, a member of the People Power Party, wrote on his Facebook, "The Daegu mayoral primary has turned from a policy contest into an election leveraging the influence of a former president and the president-elect."

Meanwhile, Yoo appeared on the MBN current affairs special 'Jung Woong-gap's In-depth Analysis' on the 3rd, emphasizing, "I hope this local election is not seen as the birth or union of 'pro-Park' forces," and reiterated, "The president herself clearly stated that there is no such thing as 'pro-Park'."