[Opinion] Prime Minister Han’s Spouse

When Ms. Han Myeong-suk was to become the Prime Minister, her husband, Park Seong-jun, professor of Sung Kong Hoe University, declined all interviews saying, “Staying quiet is the way to help (my wife).” He meant that as the husband of the first female Prime Minister in Korea, he will not make any comments that may affect her duties.

In 1968 he was involved in the Unification Revolutionary Party case and was sentenced to fifteen years in prison for violation of the national security act and conspiracy of a rebellion, and served 13 years. His past career teaches us that he must be careful in the midst of such ideological conflicts in society.

On May 12, when the whole of Korea was noisy due to the protests opposing the USFK (United States Forces Korea) army base relocating to Pyeongtaek, Prime Minister Han appealed to the Korean people. “It is necessary for the development and stability of Korea to maintain a strong alliance with the United States.”

Ten days before, the non-violent Peaceforce Corea, an organization where Professor Park is a representative and several others released a statement urging the government to “Stop forcing Pyeongtaek to accommodate USFK to guarantee USFK’s strategic flexibility.” Prime Minister Han emphasized the importance of the ROK-U.S. alliance, while her husband opposed the relocation of the USFK base to Pyeongtaek.

Professor Park writes on the Nonviolent Peaceforce website, “Let’s protect the Korean peninsula so that no superpower can throw bombs at us,” However he remains silent about North Korean nuclear projects or missiles. There are several civil groups opposing the relocation of the U.S. Army Base posted on the website. The six bank accounts that collect membership fees are all in Professor Park’s name. The Office of the Prime Minister explained, “After Prime Minister Han was inducted, he has removed himself from the joint representative activities,” but he still remains a joint representative of the group.

Husbands of foreign female prime ministers support their wives quietly in the shadows. Prime Minister Han once said, “Her husband opened her eyes to social issues and the reality of the nation (Korea).” Now, years later, one wonders to what extent they agree and disagree about Korea. If Prime Minister Han, on the inside, still agrees with her husband’s ideas, it is rather difficult to recommend him to concentrate on giving his wife quiet support.

Han Gi-heung, Editorial Writer, eligius@donga.com