The Congratulatory Orchid from Yoon Returned as a 'Dismissal Orchid' by Park Eun-jung: "I Raised It Well While Waiting for Today"

"I Have Been Waiting for This Day and Nurtured It Well"

On the 11th, Park Eun-jung, a member of the Joguk Innovation Party and one of the lawmakers who expressed refusal to accept the 'congratulatory orchid' from President Yoon Suk-yeol, which was delivered to lawmakers elected in last year's general election, successfully responded with a 'dismissal congratulatory orchid,' saying, "I have been waiting for this day and have nurtured it well."

Assemblywoman Park Eun-jung of the Reform Party decorated the congratulatory flower arrangement she received from former President Yoon Seok-yeol as a dismissal congratulatory flower arrangement. Park's Facebook

On the same day, Park posted on her social media, "Many citizens suffered because of Yoon Suk-yeol's chaos." She added, "The orchid is innocent," and wrote, "I have been waiting for this day and have nurtured it well. I return it as a dismissal congratulatory orchid."

The photo Park shared showed an orchid with the inscription, "Member of the National Assembly Park Eun-jung, congratulations on your dismissal." Next to the flowerpot was the policy booklet she published in January titled "From Prosecutorial Republic to Democratic Republic." There was also a blue ribbon, the party color of the Joguk Innovation Party. This post was made around 5:23 p.m. on the 11th, about the time former President Yoon left the official residence and moved to his private residence, one week after being dismissed on the 4th.

After last year's general election, then-President Yoon sent orchids with the message "Congratulations on your election as a member of the National Assembly" to the elected lawmakers. However, Joguk Innovation Party leader Jo Guk at the time stated, "We politely decline the president's congratulatory orchids, as this is an unprecedented abuse of veto power for personal gain," and subsequently, other party lawmakers followed suit in refusing President Yoon's congratulatory orchids.

Park Eun-jung, a member of the Party for National Innovation, is entering to attend the "9th hearing of the impeachment trial of President Yoon Seok-yeol" held at the Constitutional Court in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 18th. Photo by Joint Press Corps

In particular, on May 31 last year, Park posted on social media, "The orchid is innocent," and wrote, "I will nurture it well and return it as a congratulatory orchid to the presidential office when President Yoon Suk-yeol steps down." Regarding this, Hwang Un-ha, a Joguk Innovation Party lawmaker, appeared on MBC Radio's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus" and said, "It is difficult to nurture an orchid for three years," adding, "Park gave a very serious warning to the president."

In fact, this orchid did not even last a year with Park and was returned to former President Yoon.

Park Eun-jung was appointed as an inspection officer by then-Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae on January 23, 2020, during the Moon Jae-in administration, while serving as deputy chief prosecutor at the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office, and was responsible for inspecting Prosecutor General Yoon Suk-yeol. After Yoon was elected president, she was dismissed amid allegations of leading a so-called 'targeted inspection.' She later entered politics, was placed first on the Joguk Innovation Party's proportional representation list, and was elected in the 22nd general election.