[Editorial] Park Keun-hye’s GNP: How Will It Survive?

Selecting congresswoman Park Keun-hye as its new leader, the GNP pledged a fresh start yesterday. She proclaimed that the GNP would become the major force for sound conservatives in Korea by getting rid of its image as a corrupt party. It is a fine decision because people expect an essential alteration of the GNP. The political ambience of impeachment, which lowered public supports for the GNP, should not be taken into account. The people’s opinion can be summarized as the belief that the GNP should be the faithful representative of the conservatives by securing their identity on the foundation of ethical reliance.

Undergoing a humble self-reflection, Park should conduct these assignments gradually, one by one. She remarked that “overcoming the boundaries of conservation and progression, I will reform the party to champion stabilizing people’s livelihoods.” I hope that the party reformation in her remarks will be a signal to end the underdeveloped political culture that is stained with political conflicts and party interests and strategies. She, as a daughter of the former President Park Jung-hee, should free herself from her father’s influence and the domestic rancor. Though the upcoming election has great importance, she should suggest a vision which can lead the public.

The GNP should have made changes earlier. By finding relief in the maladministration of the Roh regime, it committed a critical mistake in reading the social flow. Several cases of forming special prosecution systems and displacement of ministers are all their work of last year. They found the reasons of their retrocession only in the investigation of illegal presidential election funds. They also thought that if they eradicated their image of taking bribes, their reputation would be recovered. The only result of these misconceptions is the disappointment and ignorance of the public.

Birds fly with two wings, conservation and progression. Without a sound conservative, there will be no progression. Park should not avoid her role and dissatisfy these expectations. This is the real assignment and duty for both the GNP and Park Keun-hye.