"Seokgodaeje" vs "Jeongchigosu"... Former Presidents Elicit Opposing Reactions from the Opposition

As the general election approaches next year, evaluations from the opposition toward former presidents who have actively engaged in political activities are divided. While former President Park Geun-hye, who recently met with President Yoon Seok-yeol, received praise as a "political master," former President Lee Myung-bak, who had a heated exchange with reporters regarding the 'Four Major Rivers' project, faced criticism demanding that he "make a sincere apology."

On the 27th, Woo Won-shik, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, raised his voice on his social media (SNS), urging former President Lee to "exercise restraint with a heart of sincere repentance."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 25th, when former President Lee visited Gangcheonbo on the Han River, he was questioned by Choi Seung-ho, former MBC president and now a journalist for Newstapa, who asked, "Do you think the claim that green algae blooms are rampant due to the Four Major Rivers project is a lie?" In response, former President Lee patted Choi on the shoulder and said, "Go study more," which was pointed out critically.

At the same event, former President Lee also stated, "The Four Major Rivers should not be used politically." Regarding this, Representative Woo said, "In short, it is outrageous. Even if he makes a sincere apology, it is not enough, yet he shows a brazen attitude." He added, "Former President Lee pushed forward the ‘Gyeongin Canal’ as a pilot project of the Four Major Rivers, pouring in 2.6595 trillion won, but the cargo using the waterway has been practically empty for the past 10 years, with only 0.9%. The Four Major Rivers project, which cost 22 trillion won, has turned into a green algae latte river."

He continued, "Due to the forcibly promoted Gyeongin Canal and the Four Major Rivers project, the public has had to bear a tax burden of as much as 5.3 trillion won to compensate for losses at the Korea Water Resources Corporation," urging, "Please exercise restraint before the public’s anger boils over any further."

On the other hand, the opposition's reaction to former President Park, who met with President Yoon, is favorable. Former National Intelligence Service Director Park Ji-won praised on his SNS the day before, saying, "As expected, former President Park is a political master incomparable to President Yoon or former President Lee," and added, "By choosing the 44th anniversary of former President Park Chung-hee’s death for her first official outing to Seoul, she handled it naturally without causing controversy like former President Lee."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon attended the '44th Anniversary Memorial Ceremony of Former President Park Chung-hee’s Death' held at the National Seoul Memorial Cemetery in Dongjak-dong, Seoul, the day before, becoming the first sitting president to do so. At the event, he met former President Park and inquired about her well-being. After the ceremony, President Yoon also paid respects at the gravesite of former President Park Chung-hee and his wife together with former President Park.

Former Director Park Ji-won analyzed that President Yoon’s attendance at the memorial and his inquiry to former President Park were "staged by former President Park." He said, "She called out President Yoon, who feels threatened by the collapse of his TK (Daegu-Gyeongbuk) support base, to create a scene of greeting. It’s a masterstroke," adding, "Politics is not for just anyone."

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