A Tearful Park Says Boycott Must Go On

Grand National Party (GNP) leader Park Geun-hye looked close to tears yesterday.

Many of the GNP lawmakers who opposed the National Assembly boycott shook their heads in defeat at their sight.

Chairwoman Park’s tears punctuated her argument for GNP lawmakers not to return to the National Assembly at a general meeting of GNP members yesterday.

After two hours of heated discussions, Park asked other GNP members for help and spent 10 minutes explaining why the GNP should continue its open-air demonstrations against the revised Private School Law in her closing statements.

However, many GNP members did not look convinced. Some of them complained that the image of the GNP had become tarnished because the party had confronted the Private School Law with ideological issues.

Regarding this, Park said, “I lost my mother because of North Korea, but I visited North Korea and met Kim Jong Il. I have my own thinking on the two Korea issues.” At that moment, her words failed her, and she cast her eyes downwards.

She looked as if she was trying to hold back her tears. The meeting room fell silent. Then some GNP members applauded.

Park regained her composure and finished her speech, saying, “Because we are on the right track, we won’t be shamed in the future, and history will judge us favorably.”

After the meeting, some GNP members praised Park, saying, “She held up just as we expected.” It was a complete defeat for those who argued for protests in the National Assembly.

Dong-Yong Min mindy@donga.com