[Manbo Jeongdam] Park Ji-won "Politics is about making people comfortable"

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The titles "Political Mastermind" and "Close Confidant of Former President Kim Dae-jung (DJ)" always accompany Park Ji-won, a five-term member of the Democratic Party of Korea. This is because, in addition to his diverse career as a member of the National Assembly, Minister of Culture and Tourism, Chief of the Presidential Secretariat, and Director of the National Intelligence Service, he also appears on broadcasts showcasing his sharp and witty rhetoric. After winning the 22nd general election in the Haenam-Wando-Jindo constituency, he gained a new title: at 82 years old, he is the "Oldest Constituency Member of the National Assembly in Constitutional History."

Park Ji-won, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is giving an interview to Asia Economy at the National Assembly on the 3rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

The interview took place over 90 minutes starting at 4 p.m. on the 3rd, the day President Yoon Seok-youl declared martial law, in Park’s office (Room 615) at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul. However, due to rapidly changing circumstances, the report was delayed, and an additional phone interview was conducted on the 26th. Park emphasized, "I learned from DJ to devote your soul to your opponent. If I don’t speak sincerely and just put on a show, the people will know."

One of the iron rules Park follows in his legislative activities is "Geum-gwi (金歸)," which means going down to his constituency on Fridays. Even if he has unavoidable Saturday schedules, he never misses going down late at night and returning to Seoul on Sunday. He said, "I’m not walking or running; the train or car carries me, so it’s fine," adding, "I promised the local residents. If I break that promise, wouldn’t that be a problem?"

Park Ji-won, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is walking on the National Assembly premises on the 3rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

What is the secret to maintaining his health despite his demanding schedule at an advanced age? He summarized it as the "Four Goods": walking well, eating well, sleeping well, and speaking out without holding back. Among these, he said walking well is the most important. Park is already known in political circles for walking about two hours daily around Yeouido. He said, "Almost every day, after dinner, I walk for about an hour and a half and then stretch for 30 minutes," adding, "Walking seems to be the best exercise. It costs nothing, and I can think alone." However, these days, he doesn’t walk alone. With a smile, Park said, "What if someone punches me while I’m walking alone?"

His goal is to work healthily for a long time. "Politics is about making the people comfortable," he said, "Our country is divided, so it would be good to improve inter-Korean relations and create a country without war."

Park Ji-won, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is giving an interview to Asia Economy at the National Assembly on the 3rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

After the impeachment motion against President Yoon was passed in the plenary session of the National Assembly, a photo of Park asleep from exhaustion became a hot topic. As a political elder, Park first expressed his apology regarding the current political situation. He said, "As someone on the front lines of politics, I apologize to the people for living through such an unfortunate history," adding, "However, at the time of the martial law declaration, we broke through the bayonets to come to the National Assembly, demanded the lifting of martial law, and passed the impeachment motion against President Yoon, working together with the people. We will definitely restore democracy."

Park emphasized that for political stabilization, the impeachment of his friend Han Duck-soo, the Acting President and Prime Minister, is necessary. Park and Han served together in the Kim Dae-jung administration as Chief of the Presidential Secretariat and Senior Secretary for Economic Affairs, respectively. Han announced that he would reject the opposition party’s demand to immediately appoint three constitutional court justices recommended by the National Assembly and would withhold appointments until a bipartisan agreement is reached.

Park expressed hope that Han would stand on the "right path." He said, "The Prime Minister faces stern judgment from the people and history," adding, "I hope he reflects and returns to stand beside the people. He must cut ties with President Yoon, apologize, and be reborn."

Park longed for a past when politics was not driven to extremes but involved dialogue and persuasion. Although the impeachment motion against President Yoon was passed, he could not hide his regret over the still polarized political situation. He said, "Compared to the past, politics has become more transparent and diligent, bringing many positive changes," but lamented, "It’s unfortunate that the essence of politics?bipartisan negotiation and good customs?has declined." The "good customs" he refers to are the culture where members of both parties would meet at street stalls near Yeouido at night to share a drink and resolve differences. Park emphasized, "Former President Kim Dae-jung was also a president with a minority in the National Assembly, but he would call opposition leaders or invite them to the Blue House to persuade them. Politics in the past respected boundaries."

Park Ji-won, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is walking on the National Assembly premises on the 3rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Below is a Q&A with Park Ji-won.

Despite your advanced age, you remain vigorous. How do you manage your health?

▲ I follow the "Four Goods": walk well, eat well, sleep well, and speak out without holding back. Holding things in causes cancer. I eat everything well, but now I’m trying to reduce my intake because of my weight. And I walk two hours every day without fail.

I heard you walk daily.

▲ I walk almost every day. I walk in Yeouido Park and also hike. I walk for an hour and a half and then stretch for 30 minutes. I also go to the gym and receive personal training three times a week.

Why do you think walking is good?

▲ It seems to be the best exercise. It costs nothing, and I can think alone. But I don’t walk alone anymore; a younger junior helps me. What if someone punches me while I’m walking alone?

Do you walk every day even in winter?

▲ I don’t walk when there’s ice. Falling is more dangerous than cancer when you get old. I once went hiking with former Minister Park Young-sun of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and fell, which required a metal pin. I just had that pin removed recently.

You are very active despite your age.

▲ If there’s an event, I make calls in the morning. On busy days, I make about 60 calls. I’ve been doing this for seven months. Sometimes it’s annoying, but I tell myself, "Ah, I’m becoming lazy," and whip myself into shape. To be a constituency member of the National Assembly, you have to make frequent calls. So I still do it without fail.

Do you still go to your constituency every Friday?

▲ From the week of the April 10 election this year until last week, I went 34 times. I never missed once. If there’s a rally on Saturday, I go down to the constituency Saturday night and return Sunday. I take the train to Naju and then switch to a car. I’m not walking or running; the train or car carries me?

Still, keeping that promise is not easy.

▲ I promised the local residents, and if I break even that one promise, wouldn’t that be a problem? I have to keep it.

What is the biggest lesson you learned from former President Kim Dae-jung?

▲ Devote your soul to your opponent. If you put on a show, the people will know. So devote your soul and be sincere.

Park Ji-won, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is giving an interview to Asia Economy at the National Assembly on the 3rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

You have been a member of the National Assembly since 1992. What do you think about politics nowadays compared to the past?

▲ Politics has become more transparent and diligent, which has brought many positive changes. But it’s unfortunate that the essence of politics?bipartisan negotiation and good customs?has declined. The parties used to fight during the day but would meet at street stalls in Yeouido at night to talk over drinks. That communication is now cut off.

Why have the good customs disappeared?

▲ The atmosphere has become harsh. I’ve never seen the government and ruling party harshly criticize and threaten the majority party like this before. Former President Kim Dae-jung was also a president with a minority in the National Assembly, but he would call opposition leaders and invite them to the Blue House to explain the budget. But now, what is this? We need to restore politics, but the good customs have disappeared.

People say politics has crossed the "golden line" these days. What is the "golden line"?

▲ Politics is inherently about the ruling and opposition parties fighting. The opposition exists to oppose. So political strife happens. But in the past, the parties respected certain boundaries.

Park Ji-won, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is giving an interview to Asia Economy at the National Assembly on the 3rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min

Acting President Han announced he would withhold appointments of constitutional court justices, and the opposition is moving to impeachment proceedings.

▲ Han must be impeached. After Han announced his position in a national address, the currency market wobbled. That is public sentiment. We must proceed with impeachment according to our conscience.

Do you have a message for Acting President Han?

▲ As a member of a shamanistic state, the Prime Minister must face stern judgment from the people and history. I hope he reflects now, returns to the right path, and stands beside the people.

What does the "right path" mean for the People Power Party?

▲ Even now, they must cut ties with President Yoon, stand with the people, reflect, apologize, and be reborn. They should cooperate in arresting President Yoon, who is a traitor and foreign agent, and agree to appoint constitutional court justices so that the Constitutional Court has nine members.

This is the third time in history that a presidential impeachment motion has been passed in the National Assembly. As a political elder, what are your thoughts?

▲ As someone on the front lines of politics, I apologize to the people for living through such an unfortunate history. But we must overcome this pain. Just as on the 3rd of this month, when martial law was declared, we broke through bayonets to come to the National Assembly, demanded lifting martial law, and succeeded in passing the impeachment motion, we will work with the people to restore democracy. We must also revive the economy, inter-Korean relations, and diplomacy.

What do you think politics is? And what is your goal as a politician?

▲ Ultimately, politics is about making the people comfortable. In the past, people needed to be well-fed and warm, but now, such people do not exist. The state must create conditions for happiness. And since we are a divided country, my goal is to improve inter-Korean relations and create a country without war. Donald Trump, the President-elect of the United States, will definitely hold a summit with North Korea. Before that, North Korea will conduct its seventh nuclear test.

What is your personal goal?

▲ I hope to work healthily for a long time. Do you think I want to be the Speaker of the National Assembly now? I was even asked to run for Governor of Jeollanam-do, but I said no.

What would you like to be inscribed on your tombstone?

▲ A person who dreamed of being the first ambassador to Pyongyang.

Interview by So Jong-seop, Managing Editor of Politics and Society

Compiled by Gong Byung-seon, Reporter