A Different Path from MB
Health Deterioration in Prison May Make Full Engagement Difficult
[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Former President Park Geun-hye, who has remained out of the public eye for over a year since her pardon at the end of 2021, spent her birthday this year in silence as well. Ahead of the party convention, several party leadership candidates sent 'love calls,' but she did not meet with any of them. This contrasts with former President Lee Myung-bak (MB), who was pardoned a year later and has already shown political presence, being mentioned as a 'Middle East special envoy.'
Former Future United Party leader Hwang Kyo-ahn and People Power Party lawmaker Yoon Sang-hyun, both classified as 'pro-Park' figures within the ruling party, visited former President Park's residence on the 2nd, her birthday, but left after delivering gifts without meeting her. These individuals have also declared their candidacy for party leader in the upcoming convention.
After visiting the residence, Lawmaker Yoon posted on his social media, "I visited the residence to mark former President Park's birthday. Thinking of the hardships the President has endured brings pain to my heart," adding, "I sincerely prayed that the President spends her remaining years peacefully at home. I will do my utmost consistently to restore former President Park's honor." Former leader Hwang also set up a birthday celebration table in front of the residence.
The party leadership candidates' visits to former President Park's residence are closely related to the voting sentiment in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK) region, which strongly supports conservatives. Especially in this party convention, where 'party sentiment is 100%,' the TK region's votes are likely to have a significant impact on the election outcome. Former Supreme Council member candidate Kim Jae-won recently emphasized the seriousness of the 'TK grassroots public sentiment' on SBS Radio.
Although they did not visit the residence directly, lawmakers Kim Ki-hyun and Ahn Cheol-soo, who are forming a 'two-strong structure' for the party leader position in the convention, recently visited Daegu Seomun Market, which can be interpreted in a similar context. President Yoon Suk-yeol also sent congratulatory flowers ahead of former President Park's birthday and, on the 1st, visited the birthplace of former President Park Chung-hee for the first time since his inauguration to pay respects.
However, former President Park has remained out of the public eye since her pardon and has not issued any significant political messages, so her influence in this party convention phase is expected to be limited. This contrasts with MB, who has actively increased his political weight by contacting party leadership candidates such as Ahn Cheol-soo and Yoon Sang-hyun and being mentioned as a 'Middle East special envoy.'
This difference is partly due to the unique political situation of former President Park, involving 'impeachment,' unlike MB, but the main reason appears to be a significant deterioration in her health. Former President Park's health worsened considerably due to five years of imprisonment, and the Blue House cited her 'health condition' as the reason when announcing her pardon.
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