[Editorial] Magnanimity of Park Geun-hye Tested

Former Grand National Party chairman Lee Hoi-chang`s leanings toward a presidential run is foreshadowing heightened internal turmoil for the GNP. A simple sit-down between former party leader Lee and current party presidential nominee Lee Myung-bak could easily muffle the brewing talks regarding the imminence of a clash; yet an isolation of the former leader now looks to add fuel to the run of fiery speculations.

The door, then, is left open for Park Geun-hye to step in to extinguish the fire at hand. It is Park who looks to possess the means with which to resist a third election run by former chairman Lee Hoi-chang and secure not turmoil, but a united Grand National Party in the advent of this important election year.

Her idle sideliner`s stance toward former chairman Lee thus far could have easily been responsible for setting up the party`s current state of speculative division. Park`s passivity, with little doubt, sent out encouraging, if not outright consenting, signals to GNP candidate Lee and his close-knit political group regarding the upcoming election. Had there been more active support by Park for Lee after the primary election, the internal divisions now at hand could have possibly been avoided.

Yesterday, Park was quoted as saying, "It troubles me that the party has reached this point even after I had clearly addressed my acceptance of defeat in order to expedite full unified mobilization for the elections." What was made clear from the tone of her address was a residual disdain for the nominee. Her refusal to join in talks with Lee Myung-bak or declare her forthright support for him are being manifested as evidence for that as well.

Nominee Lee is no less at fault for his current plight, however.

"I cannot idly stand to watch those who are still mistakenly involved in the party nomination bidding," was party leader Lee Jae-oh`s pejorative comment in regards to Park`s absent compliance to party interests, which are now unequivocally part of her former foe`s interest. Instead of a "winner-take-all" mentality, the victor clearly should have been more beseeching to promote more unified sentiments from the defeated, Park.

If sentiments are allowed to progress as they have, the party could easily lose in its effort to overthrow the incumbent majority of the government. Once deemed her party`s rejuvenator and a leadership hopeful, Park must surely concur with the dangers connoted in such a gloomy forecast. Accordingly, she must warmly take the hand being offered by nominee Lee and prevent a party-dividing run by former GNP leader Lee. In light of her persistent upholding of "fundamental principles," such a gesture of amelioration would only make sense. Furthermore, a genuine politician must display an unyielding pursuit of a greater mission with sacrifices made of one`s own interests that may stand in the way. This would be a significant push for nominee Lee as well.