Park Geun-hye Says "Stripe of a Person Is Inside"... Mixed Reactions Within Ruling Party

[Anchor]

The People Power Party has also held a lawmaker retreat. Former President Park Geun-hye, who attended the event, emphasized the need to unite around the leadership, drawing mixed reactions within the party.

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) lawmaker retreat with the following words:

[We welcome former President Park Geun-hye, who has safeguarded the values of liberal democracy in the Republic of Korea.]

This marks former President Park's first attendance at a party retreat in 14 years since 2012, when she was the presidential nominee of the former Saenuri Party, and the first time ever for a former president.

[Park Geun-hye / Former President: There is a saying that while a tiger's stripes are on the outside, a person's stripes are on the inside.]

Noting that a person's character is not outwardly visible and that trust is the most important element 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 terrifying as division within our own ranks. Especially in difficult times, we must unite as one around the leadership...]

Following former President Park's remarks, lawmakers attending the retreat showed starkly contrasting reactions divided along factional lines.

The pro-leadership faction, including Representative Chang Dong-hyeok, rejoiced, interpreting that Park lent strength to Chang's leadership system by evaluating the "special counsel into the election commission" as a "result achieved through the leadership's struggle."

[Chang Dong-hyeok / Leader, People Power Party: The former president mentioned that it looks like the party leadership and floor leadership are currently cooperating well to lead the party...]

Meanwhile, reactions from the non-mainstream faction poured in critically, such as, "Public sentiment is not turning toward the leadership, and the former president seems incapable of properly grasping current political realities," "We expected her to criticize Representative Chang's disciplinary politics, so we are deeply disappointed," and "Many lawmakers attended because of former President Park, but the event has completely lost its meaning."

The Democratic Party of Korea lashed out, remarking, "There is no future for a party that asks the main culprit of the state-run scandal to show the path for conservatives."

(Video capture: Lee Seung-hwan, Shin Dong-hwan | Video editing: Lee Seung-jin | Design: Jang Seong-beom)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.