[Anchor]
The ruling People Power Party also held a lawmakers' retreat. Former President Park Geun-hye, who attended the event, emphasized unity centered around the party leadership, but reactions within the party were sharply divided.
Reporter Kim Bo-mi has the details.
[Reporter]
The People Power Party introduced the former president, who was dismissed through impeachment, at today's (the 27th) lawmakers' retreat as follows:
[We welcome former President Park Geun-hye, who has protected the values of liberal democracy in the Republic of Korea.]
This marks former President Park's first attendance at a lawmakers' retreat in 14 years since 2012, when she was the presidential nominee of the former Saenuri Party, and the first time for a former president.
[Park Geun-hye/Former President : There is a saying that a tiger's stripes are on the outside, but a person's stripes are on the inside.]
Beginning by saying that a person's character is not visible on the outside and that trust is the most important thing in politics, her remarks were also interpreted as a warning against betrayal.
[Park Geun-hye/Former President : When fighting an enemy on the outside, there is no enemy as fearsome as division within our own ranks. In times of difficulty, we must unite as one around the leadership...]
Regarding former President Park's remarks, lawmakers attending the retreat showed sharply contrasting reactions depending on their factional affiliations.
The pro-leadership faction, including Representative Jang Dong-hyeok, rejoiced, saying that former President Park lent weight to Representative Jang's leadership system by evaluating the special prosecutor probe into the National Election Commission as a "result won through the leadership's struggle."
[Jang Dong-hyeok/People Power Party Leader : The former president said that it looks like the current party leadership and floor leadership are cooperating to lead the party well...]
Meanwhile, critical reactions poured in from the non-leadership faction, with comments such as, "Public sentiment is not heading toward the leadership, and it seems the former president cannot properly assess reality," "I thought she would criticize Representative Jang's disciplinary politics, so I am very disappointed," and "Many lawmakers attended because of former President Park, but it has completely lost its meaning."
The Democratic Party of Korea criticized the move, remarking, "There is no future for a party that asks the main culprit of the state-run affairs scandal for the path of conservatism."
(Camera Reporter: Lee Seung-hwan, Shin Dong-hwan | Video Editor: Lee Seung-jin | Designer: Jang Seong-beom)
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