Presidential Address
President Park Geun-hye made her new year’s speech, but only the sound of one hand clapping was heard, as the opposition remained uninterested.
The ruling Saenuri party and opposition offered differing views on President Park Geun-hye’s new year news conference.
The Saenuri party praised the President’s philosophy on the administration of state affairs, and her efforts to connect with the people.
The ruling party gave a thumbs up on the President’s policy proposals for a three-year economic plan, the restructuring of the public business sector, and the resumption of family reunions between the two Koreas. The party also called for bipartisan efforts in support of the government’s plans, saying that the opposition’s cooperation was important.
Saenuri party spokesman Yoo Il-ho said, “Running state affairs is like a three legged-race. The opposition must understand that all parties are responsible in serving the public interest. We ask for their active involvement and cooperation.”
But the opposition downplayed the President’s speech, dismissing the event as mere posturing, self-promotion lacking substance. The democratic party criticized that the President evaded key issues such as legislative reform and the controversies surrounding the 2012 presidential election.
Opposition party spokesman Kim Kwan-young said, “People want communication that is straightforward and honest. Today’s news conference was like a script, a carefully-staged act of self-promotion.”
Ahn Chul-soo and his “new politics” committee voiced its criticism of the speech as well, claiming that the President failed to address the public welfare and economic democracy.