Park bolts from Grand National base; is silent on new party for election bid

Representative Park Geun-hye, vice president of the opposition Grand National Party, resigned from the party Thursday, leaving open the possibility of joining or creating a new political party to support her expected bid for the presidency in December's election.

The eldest daughter of former President Park Chung Hee spoke in a news conference at the National Assembly building.

"I decided to leave the Grand National Party because I can no longer participate in an opportunistic politics aimed solely at taking over power in disregard of the people's will," Ms. Park, 50, said tearfully. The Grand National Party had to choose between reviving itself as a responsible democratic party to gain public confidence and remaining a vehicle only for its president Lee Hoi-chang, Ms. Park said. "Unfortunately, the party choose to betray the people's hope."

Asked if she would run for president, Ms. Park said she does not yet have a concrete plan.

"Some suggested that I should run for the presidency later, but that is not what I have in mind," she said. Female presidential candidates are increasingly found in the world, and Korean women are actively participating in politics, she said, adding with a bright smile that it is time for Korea to have a female president. "When a woman is president of a country," she said, "there should be only merits, never demerits."

Ms. Park said that for the time being she would sit in the assembly without political affiliation. "If there are politicians who give priority to national interests, I will join such men," Ms. Park said.

Observers speculated that she might start a new party. If she ran in the presidential election, her support in the Gyeongsang region could change the political landscape, they said.

Ms. Park's defection left the party in shock. Lee Hoi-chang, Grand National president, met with the party leadership Thursday morning. "We should do our best to turn around Representative Park's decision," Mr. Lee told party members. He reportedly ordered them to refrain from attacking Ms. Park.

Ms. Park's defection reduces the the Grand National Party's seats in the National Assembly to 133 - still the largest delegation in the 273-seat chamber.

by Ko Jung-ae