Presidential Office and Ruling Party Expect Political Role from MB
Opposition Criticizes as "Insult to Foreign Country and Citizens"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Joo-hee] The influence of former President Lee Myung-bak (MB) appears to be growing within the ruling party. Not only are key ruling party figures frequently visiting the former president's residence, but there is also talk of him playing a special envoy role to the Middle East in the national interest.
President Yoon Suk-yeol recently had a phone call with the former president, during which they shared the diplomatic achievements of his recent tour, including securing $30 billion (approximately 37 trillion won) in investment from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is reported that President Yoon also requested the former president’s interest and involvement in Middle East diplomacy during the call.
The former president has a strong connection with the UAE. In 2009, while in office, he exported the Barakah nuclear power plant to the UAE, valued at 21 trillion won. This was Korea’s first-ever export of a nuclear power plant. The former president is credited with significantly expanding bilateral cooperation between the two countries through this nuclear export.
Former President Lee Myung-bak, who was pardoned and reinstated through President Yoon Suk-yeol's special New Year's pardon, arrived at his residence in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of December 30 last year and delivered a message to the nation. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Within the ruling party, there is a consensus that the economic achievements, such as President Yoon’s securing of $30 billion in investment, are decisively rooted in the longstanding friendly relations between the two countries. Hong Joon-pyo, mayor of Daegu, expressed a positive view on the former president’s role through his communication platform 'Youth’s Dream,' stating, "It is right for MB to go for the sake of national interest."
News of ruling party figures visiting the former president’s residence in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, has also become frequent. Amid fierce competition in the ruling party’s leadership election, candidates are rushing to pay their respects to the former president.
Pro-Yoon faction leadership candidate Kim Ki-hyun met the former president early on January 1 to mark the New Year. Rival candidate Ahn Cheol-soo visited the former president’s residence on the 20th, and Yoon Sang-hyun is also expected to meet the former president this afternoon (31st) to seek advice regarding the leadership election.
The opposition party views this unfavorably. Although pardoned, there are criticisms that mentioning the role of the former president, who has a history of imprisonment on serious corruption charges, is inappropriate. On the 30th, Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party, stated at the National Assembly’s Supreme Council meeting, "A special envoy is the face of the country. Mentioning (the former president) as a special envoy is not only disrespectful to the people but also close to an insult to the counterpart country."
The presidential office also holds the position that "the former president’s health recovery comes first." However, as expectations for the former president’s role as a special envoy or in other capacities remain high within the ruling party, attention is focused on his future political moves. In particular, the visits to his residence by leadership candidates ahead of the party convention are analyzed as reflecting the judgment that the former president still wields influence over conservative supporters.
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