[Politics That Day] Jinbak Discriminator Bulssi is Park "A Sincere Person"

November 2015 Cheong State Council President's Remarks
Before the General Election, "Please Choose Sincere People"
Internal Conflict Following Saenuri Party's Defeat in the 20th General Election

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min]

Editor's Note‘Politics, On That Day...’ is a series planning corner that looks back on Korean politics through the ‘recollection of memories’ related to notable scenes, events, and figures.

"I ask that only sincere people be chosen for the sake of the people."

This was the message delivered by then-President Park Geun-hye at the Cabinet meeting on November 10, 2015. Who did she mean by ‘sincere people’? The reason the political circles in Yeouido were stirred at the time was due to various interpretations surrounding the meaning and context of the remark.

November 2015 was five months before the April 2016 general election. It was a time when the ruling and opposition parties’ competition for nomination was heating up, and the so-called ‘sincere people’ remark came from the president’s mouth. Considering the weight of the president’s words, the impact was considerable.

The opposition parties were on high alert, interpreting it as a call to eliminate opposition lawmakers. This was due to the context of the remark. The ‘sincere people’ comment came during criticism of the National Assembly opposing labor reform and economic revitalization bills.

Former President Park Geun-hye is paying respects at the burial site of her father, former President Park Chung-hee, at the National Seoul Memorial Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, Seoul, on the morning of March 24, 2022. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

An interesting point is that subtle ripples were also felt within the ruling Saenuri Party. Ahead of the general election, those who had held key positions in the Blue House and the Cabinet were preparing to run as candidates.

Some interpreted the ‘sincere people’ remark as a message to select those truly trustworthy among the pro-Park (Chin-Park Geun-hye) faction. It was seen as President Park lending support to the theory of a purge in the Daegu-Gyeongbuk (TK) region.

‘Sincere people’ remained a key interest in Yeouido politics for a while. Although there are various interpretations about the origin of the ‘Jinbak Gambyeolsa’ (True Pro-Park Identifier) controversy that influenced the 20th general election in 2016, many pay attention to President Park Geun-hye’s message on November 10, 2015.

Some also view Rep. Jo Won-jin’s remarks as the origin. On December 19, 2015, Rep. Jo attended the opening ceremony of the election office of former Dong-gu Mayor Lee Jae-man, who was preparing to run in the Daegu Dong-gu-eul district.

Former President Park Geun-hye is about to be discharged from Samsung Medical Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on the morning of March 24, 2022, while former Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Choi Kyung-hwan and former Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Cho Yoon-sun are waiting for her. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

Rep. Jo Won-jin said, “Everyone talks about their closeness to the president and claims to be pro-Park, but it’s confusing who the sincere people really are,” and added, “Wherever I go, there are sincere people.”

Was Rep. Jo Won-jin’s statement, as a pro-Park politician, the beginning of the so-called Jinbak Gambyeolsa controversy? His message came one month after President Park’s Cabinet meeting remark.

President Park mentioned “choosing sincere people” in November, and Rep. Jo said in December, “Wherever I go, there are sincere people.” Rep. Jo’s message can be interpreted as following up on President Park’s Cabinet meeting remark.

Another reason the Jinbak Gambyeolsa controversy intensified is related to Rep. Choi Kyung-hwan of the Saenuri Party. It was analyzed that a candidate visited for encouragement by Choi, a pro-Park power broker, was considered a true pro-Park.

As the controversy over who among the pro-Park faction was the real pro-Park escalated, the opposition parties began managing their expressions carefully.

It was perceived as a prelude to infighting within the ruling party. The effort to distinguish the true pro-Park among the pro-Park faction ultimately shook the 20th general election landscape. The Saenuri Party, in an election it could not afford to lose, ended up defeated. The loss in the metropolitan area was especially painful.

Former President Park Geun-hye is attending the inauguration ceremony of the 20th President Yoon Suk-yeol held at the National Assembly on May 10, 2022. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

At that time, public sentiment favored the Democratic Party, which advocated a check-and-balance approach, over the Saenuri Party, which was embroiled in infighting due to the Jinbak Gambyeolsa controversy. Although the Democratic Party suffered a crushing defeat in its political stronghold Honam at the hands of the People’s Party, it caused an upset by becoming the largest party in the National Assembly based on a landslide victory in the metropolitan area.

The Democratic Party secured 123 seats to become the largest party, while the Saenuri Party took 122 seats as the second-largest party. Although the difference was just one seat, the shock of losing the position of the largest party in the National Assembly led the Saenuri Party into a quagmire of confusion.

Eight months after the 20th general election in April 2016, in December, President Park Geun-hye was impeached by the National Assembly. Although the Democratic Party led the impeachment, a significant number of Saenuri Party lawmakers also voted in favor. Among those who supported the impeachment, many were stigmatized as not being true pro-Park.

How many could have predicted that the December 2016 presidential impeachment resolution, which changed the course of Korean political history, and the Jinbak Gambyeolsa controversy would create such a butterfly effect? Politicians often overlook the simple truth that small incidents can drive massive change.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.