Park Geun-Hae Seceded from GNP

By the sudden declaration of the secession of Park Geun-Hae, the voce president of GNP, the national politics before the Presidential election is expected to be shaken violently.

GNP is likely to have a big trouble with the party`s competition for the Presidential candidacy scheduled on May 9th. Furthermore, the secession of Ms. Park may tremendously affect the political tectonics in the future by re-igniting the hot spark of `Yongnam Presidential candidacy theory,` or `a third candidate theory.`

Ms. Park held a press conference in the National Assembly and revealed that “I concluded that I cannot cooperate with the person who refuses to do the politics that the people want and absorbed in the desire for power only. So, I am leaving the Grand National Party.” Therefore, the member lawmakers of GNP reduced to 133.

She added, “GNP made an unfortunate choice to betray the national hope right at the corner where it can be reborn as a democratic national party trusted by the people or it remains as a outdated party centered on a boss. I made this decision with a confidence that the nation is prior to the party.”

After the press conference, Lee Hoi-Chang called a presidential meeting and expressed his intention to persuade Ms. Park to stay in the party, saying “I am solely to blame for it. I would like to do my best effort to change her mind.”

Meanwhile, Rep. Kim Deok-Ryong, a senior lawmaker of GNP, also hinted his secession, saying “Frankly speaking, I am coping with the same problem,” anticipating more aftershock of the Park`s secession.

Ms. Park remarked that she would remain independent for a while without being engaged in any party. But she expressed her intention to participate in a new party, saying “If a policy based party emerges someday, I may cooperate with it.”

With regard to the Presidential running, she did not hide her will to power. “It`s kind of world trend that women run for the Presidency and it is quite possible in Korea since many women are actively participating in the social activities.”

The Air of Spring On the Fields

A farmer is spreading fertilizers on land at Suncheon, South Cholla. The sprouting green barleys are covering the land with the air of spring.

[Editorial] Nephew of First Lady, Now Brother of First Lady

In the midst of the suspicions about the sons of the President and the nephew of First Lady, now another suspicion was raised that Mr. Lee Sung-Ho, the brother of First Lady, exerted his influences on the foundation of a venture company.

Mr. Lee participated in the foundation ceremony of HandyTechKorea, Co. Ltd. and gave a word of encouragement in August 2000 and the many influential figures of the government who are acquainted with Mr. Lee also attended the ceremony and took a picture for celebration. The venture company was bankrupted soon and the owner of the company ran away to China.

The relation of Mr. Lee to this company and whether he benefited something out of this company is not revealed in detail. However, it is certain that the status of Mr. Lee as a brother of First Lady considerably affected on the foundation of the company. If not, how come a wreath from the Prime Minister was delivered and many influential politicians and government officials participated in the foundation ceremony? The power of Mr. Lee could be imagine by the fact that those influential figures took a picture around him.

The problem lies in the fact that the innocent investors who put their money into such company that was founded with the celebration of the celebrities are damaged by the bankruptcy of the company. The rumor is hanging around already that the large stockholders shared the invested money as they wished. Therefore, the assertion of the opposition party that it is a venture fraud by selling the names of political powers is understandable.

There is no other President whose relatives were all covered by the suspicions as in this government. One of them who must be especially prudent seems to active engage in a project for benefit. But the investigation is stumbling and the suspicions have been accumulated.

A thorough investigation is the only way to resolve the suspicion and the case of Mr. Lee is no exception.

Yeon-Wook Jung jyw11@donga.com