A photo of pro-Park figures

A picture posted on his personal blog by Former Government Administration and Home Affairs Minister Jeong Jong-seop is drawing heated attention. In the picture, Jeong is having breakfast at a hangover soup restaurant along with six candidates running for office in Daegu, resolving to win the general elections. The former minister left a posting on the picture that read, “Like-minded people determined to take actions for the success of the Park Geun-hye administration.” In other words, the picture was to prove that the six people that he dined together with are those who are truly trusted by the president.

The six people include Yoon Doo-hyeon, former presidential secretary for public affairs, Gwak Sang-do, former presidential secretary for civil affairs, Chu Gyeong-ho, former head of the government policy coordination office, Ha Choon-soo, former governor of Daegu Bank, and Lee Jae-man, former head of Daegu's Dong-gu Office. The six men pointed the finger at the incumbent lawmakers, accusing them of lacking a sense of devotion. In Daegu, even Rep. Kim Bu-gyeom of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea publicly stresses his relationship with President Park, and the city is witnessing a fierce competition among the members of the ruling party over whom is truly trusted by the president, which reflects the reality where too many lawmakers are labeling themselves as her true confidants.

Considering that Mr. Jeong was a professor of constitutional study, it is disappointing that he is trying to garner votes by fueling a factional debate. Referring to a press release titled, “Six true pro-Park figures prepping for a counterattack,” Lee Jae-man called himself and his friends. “The six pro-Park figures chosen as the counterweight to the incumbent lawmakers claim they are pro-Yoo Seung-min.” In response, Rep. Yoo Seung-min lamented, “Lee Jae-man barely knows the president personally. It is simply ludicrous that he is labeling himself as bone fide pro-Park. Even the constituencies of Gwak and Chu have been taken care of by an invisible hand. Is Daegu immune to the bottom-up nomination system?”

The outright “pro-Park marketing” appears to reflect their jitters over the approving ratings that remain much more stagnant than expected. Their “performance” to prove their loyalty to the president is pathetic, even. If the lawmakers only care about what the president wants instead of proposing a new political vision, they will make mockery of the voters and undermine politics of Daegu. The presidential office needs to draw a line clearly that the president is not involved with the “pro-Park marketing.” A failure to do so might set off strong opposition from the voters not only in Daegu but in other parts of the country.