Avid fans of Park Geun-hye remain unshaken

Supporters of President Park Geun-hye are quickly turning their backs on her amid the snowballing allegations that her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil meddled in state affairs.

A latest poll showed that Park’s popularity rating neared the unprecedented 10 percent range, with her popularity notably shrinking even in her traditional strongholds -- North Gyeongsang Province, Daegu and the over-60 age group.

But there are still avid fans showing unwavering support for President Park, with many blaming North Korea, those who sympathize with North Korea and even the media for “framing” the president. 

The website called “Park Samo” -- an abbreviation for a group of people who love Park Geun-hye -- still has some 67,000 members, with a host of comments left to cheer up the president.

“Park’s parents died while protecting his country. Park is a patriot who has married this country and worked hard for prosperity of this country,” Lee Seok-in, the chief of the minor right-wing Daehan Party, told The Korea Herald.

Daehan Party members have staged a rally near Cheonggye Stream in central Seoul, condemning the media for “inciting division among the public” by reporting on allegations despite Park’s public apology.

“The Choi Soon-sil allegations are unconfirmed and they might have been raised by left-wing, North Korean sympathizers,” he said. “What is important now is that we stand united for our country against North Korea. It is not time to drag down our patriotic president.”

Ahn Jae-chul, president of The World Peace Freedom United, said President Park is the only person who can keep South Korea safe from North Korea’s military provocations.

“I am not defending Choi Soon-sil. She should be investigated and punished accordingly. Choi is to blame for the current chaos, not our president. Choi put Park in a difficult position by abusing her power,” he said. “North Korea sympathizers are cashing in on the situation to further create confusion.”

Park Gi-bo, a 80-year-old retiree who was hanging out with his friends at Tapgol Park in central Seoul, said that it is surprising to see the public calling for the resignation of the nation’s leader.

“Park is anyway the president we elected. She has done so well in ruling the country so far. We should support her until the end of her presidency,” he said. “How can state prosecutors attempt to raid Cheong Wa Dae, the palace for the president?”

“Back in our day, people who talked about our leader like that were taken to prison.”

Some were understanding of Park’s reliance on Choi, attributing it to the solitary life she has led after losing her parents at a young age.

“Park must have been used by Choi,” a 67-year-old security guard surnamed Bae said. “I pity our president.”

Her mother, former first lady Yuk Young-soo, was assassinated in 1974 by a pro-North Korean agent when Park was only 21. Her father Park Chung-hee was killed by his own intelligence chief in 1979. 

A political expert called the loyalty toward Park “political mercy.”

“Park’s loyal supporters feel sympathy for the president, thinking that their leader was betrayed by Choi,” said Bae Jong-chan, chief director at Research & Research. “Emotional support for Park overrides rational criticism in this situation.”

“As the public continue to call for her to resign, they will likely solidify their support for Park.”

But most supporters of Park said they have had enough of the president in light of the scandal.

“I supported President Park for her conservative policies. But President Park has crossed a line this time by ignoring the Constitution and remaining silent about the allegations surrounding Choi Soon-sil,” said Colin Kang, 28, who voted for Park in the 2012 presidential election.

“It is no more than blind faith to support Park at this moment,” he said. “It is embarrassing that the president tainted the image of conservative values through her personal actions.”

Kim Ki-chul, a 70-year-old retiree, said that Park clearly made a mistake and hurt the pride of her supporters.

“She should admit to her wrongdoing and clarify all the suspicions,” he said. “But she should firmly complete her presidency without stepping down to stop the country further plunging into chaos.”

Yoon Hee-woong, a senior researcher at Opinion Live, said that the withdrawal of support toward Park signals distrust and skepticism about the whole governing system.

“When a scandal is about political ideology and policies, the fall in popularity among core supporters is limited,” he said. “But such a corruption scandal can face strong backlash within the support base.”

By Ock Hyun-ju (laeticia.ock@heraldcorp.com)