Park Geun-Hye Consolidates May 31 Gains

Kang Jae-Sup, a protege of Park Geun-Hye, has been elected to succeed Park as Chairman of the Grand National Party (Conservative Opposition). Kang narrowly bested his main rival, Lee Jae-Oh, a protege of Park’s main political rival, Seoul mayor Lee Myung Bak.

Lee and Park, the daughter of long-time military dictator Gen. Park Chung-Hee, are competing for the GNP nomination for the 2007 presidential election. Park’s own GNP chairmanship was criticized for its absence of affirmative principle and reliance on Roh Moo Hyun’s mistakes, but Park managed to keep the fractious party united and steer it to a series of impressive wins at the polls. Those wins, and what is perceived as Park’s calm reaction to an assassin’s attempt to slash her throat during a campaign rally, have boosted her poll numbers past those of Lee. An independent inquiry later concluded that the assassin (say it with me) acted alone.

Lee has also been damaged by allegations of corruption and a propensity for gaffes.