A sister of the ruling party leader announced that she will run for parliament in an opposition party, but was met with a lukewarm response on Saturday.
Park Geun-ryeong, sister of Saenuri Party leader Park Geun-hye, announced Friday that she would run in Boeun, Okcheon and Yeongdong of North Chungcheong Province for the Liberty Forward Party.
Park Geun-ryeong
However Sim Dae-pyung, leader of the minor conservative party, did not meet the announcement with open arms on Saturday
“I will not lead the way in hurting love between sisters,” said Sim, highlighting his uncertainty over her candidacy
“We will discuss the issue during the nomination review committee today, but I will have politics with moral principles that keep the tradition of Chungcheong Province alive.”
The committee for the Liberty Forward Party said they are reviewing whether or not Park is an appropriate candidate.
“We will look at whether or not she has the ability to work for the people and the country, and take into consideration that she is the daughter of a former president amid the tensions between parties,” said committee head Lee Yun-Chong.
Both sisters are daughters of Park Chung-hee, a former military ruler who was assassinated in 1979.
Okcheon is the hometown of their mother and former first lady Yook Young-su.
By Robert Lee (robert@heraldcorp.com)