GNP Rivals Clash over Property Issue

With only three days left before the Grand National Party primary elections, Lee Myung-bak, former Seoul mayor, and Park Geun-hye, former leader of the GNP, are engaged in a fierce struggle. They argued over suspicions regarding Lee’s alleged ownership of property in Dogok-dong under a borrowed name on August 16.

Lee held a press conference at his camp office in Yeouido, Seoul on August 16 and said, “The property in Dogok-dong is not mine. If the prosecution has information that says otherwise, they should unveil it immediately instead of threatening me with it.”

He also added, “We must find the person who pressured the prosecution to report the results of a case which has not yet been closed. This confused the Electoral College by spreading false information to the media, and degraded the honor of the prosecution.”

Lee criticized Park, saying, “Park’s camp also should be prudent. An attempt to make an opponent withdraw one’s candidacy is a vulgar political maneuver. Moreover, her efforts to dissipate the primary at the last minute just because she is lagging behind in the polls debase our citizens and ridicule our party members.”

On the other side, Hong Sa-deok, leader of Park’s camp, urged the prosecution to disclose all results related to the property. He added that Lee must make his brother Lee Sang-eun, and property managers Lee Yeong-bae and Lee Byeong-mo allow the prosecution to reveal the investigation results.

Hong said in response to Lee’s remarks, “Lee should stop trying to fool the people. He is talking about political maneuvering, but he is the one who pushed for a lawsuit in the first place.”

He added, “If there are problems to be found with the qualifications of a candidate, the GNP will have to go through the elections without a candidate. If the GNP loses the election for the third time in a row, it will face criticism that it does not deserve to exist, because it will be an infertile party.”

Kim Jae-won, a spokesperson for Park’s camp, urged Lee to drop his candidacy, saying, “If Lee keeps on trying to become the GNP candidate, not only the party but also the country will be hurt.”

taylor55@donga.com