Dalseong’s Public Sentiment Transforms: Former President Park Geun-hye’s Impact
Former President Park Geun-hye’s recent visit to Dokkaebi Hyeonpung Baeknyeon Market in Dalseong-gun, Daegu has stirred a significant change in the local public sentiment, shifting from disappointment to heartbreak. Comparisons to her predecessors paint a vivid picture of the evolving perceptions of the community.
High Expectations and Disappointment
When former President Park Geun-hye relocated to her private residence in Ssanggye-ri, Yuga-eup, Dalseong-gun, Dalseong residents held high hopes and expressed their excitement. One resident shared, “Our beloved President has overcome numerous challenges and returned home to Dalseong, his cherished hometown. It’s a privilege to finally have the opportunity to see him up close.”
However, the long-awaited encounter did not materialize. Former President Park remained absent from the region for an entire year, leaving the residents disappointed. Expressions such as, “If you’re going to stay at home, why did you come down? You’re only in Seoul,” became commonplace among the disillusioned community.
Rumors about the former president’s health added to the discussion. Speculation increased when Park failed to appear at a birthday celebration last February. A local political official commented, “Since she is in the area, it would be considerate to visit and exchange greetings. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the chance. There are even talks of her requiring assistance from bodyguards due to health issues.”
A Change in Sentiment
The recent visit to the marketplace and a subsequent media interview proved to be turning points in the local sentiment towards Park. An official from the Dalseong-gun Saemaeul Association shared, “During the media interview, I witnessed former President Park’s composure and sincerity as she expressed, ‘I was impeached against my will, and I sincerely apologize to the people.’ This display has completely dispelled any rumors regarding abnormalities.”
Local traders at Dokkaebi Market Hyeonpung Baeknyeon were especially elated to see the former president’s good health, dispelling concerns that had surfaced during her absence. One trader expressed, “Not having seen your face for over a year, I genuinely believed your health had significantly deteriorated. Witnessing you in the market today brings immense joy. We hope you remain healthy and continue engaging with the residents.”
Expressing Disappointment and Drawing Boundaries
Former President Park also addressed her disheartenment towards the so-called ‘pro-Park’ lawmakers who had supported her impeachment. She revealed, “Among these legislators, some supported the impeachment without ever inquiring about my well-being during the lengthy period of my incarceration. A sense of betrayal stems from relationships that I considered akin to family.”
She also made it clear that she does not wish to be associated with her party member’s rumored candidacy for next year’s general election, stating, “I hope people do not perceive the candidacy as being linked to me. Let past relationships remain in the past.”
Public Perceptions and Moving Forward
These recent events have led to introspection among Dalseong’s residents. A member of the Dalseong Welcome Group, a prominent advocate for the former president, emphasized the significance of this development, stating, “Former President Park expressing her disappointment towards the ‘pro-Park’ lawmakers highlights the delicate nature of public sentiment. We hope that she, as a former president, will integrate into the local community and contribute to its growth.”
A local politician drew a comparison between Park and other former presidents, commending her for accepting responsibility and expressing remorse for her actions. He contrasted this with the behavior of certain predecessors who remain focused on dividing the public and refusing to acknowledge any policy failures during their tenure.
Dalseong’s public sentiment changed from disappointed to heartbroken… Comparison with former presidents
Former President Park Geun-hye visits Dokkaebi Hyeonpung Baeknyeon Market in Dalseong-gun, Daegu on the 25th before Chuseok to shop for goods and exchange greetings with citizens. Reporter Kim Young-jin kyjmaeil@imaeil.com
“I saw former President Park Geun-hye again in the way she said everything was my fault.”
Former President Park Geun-hye visited the Dokkaebi Hyeonpung Baeknyeon Market in Dalseong-gun, Daegu on the 25th and communicated with local residents for the first time. An influential figure in the Dalseong region commented on the thoughts expressed in an interview with JoongAng Ilbo published the following day.
Former President Park’s public trip to the traditional market and her first media interview changed the public sentiment in the Dalseong region, which had been mostly ‘sadness’, to ‘warmth’.
Dalseong residents expressed high expectations and interest when former President Park moved into her private residence in Ssanggye-ri, Yuga-eup, Dalseong-gun in March last year.
At the time, a resident of Yuga-eup said, “Our beloved President went through a lot of hardships and returned home to Dalseong, which is like his hometown. It’s great to be able to see him from a close range now.”
But the wait was long. The former president Park remained absent for a year, and the hearts of the residents who had been looking forward to a meeting soon turned to disappointment. People even said, “If you’re going to stay at home, why did you come down? You’re only in Seoul.”
Former President Park Geun-hye visits Dokkaebi Hyeonpung Baeknyeon Market in Dalseong-gun, Daegu on the 25th before Chuseok to shop for goods and exchange greetings with citizens. Reporter Kim Young-jin kyjmaeil@imaeil.com
Some even speculated about health problems. Since former President Park did not even appear at a birthday celebration last February, speculation about her health spread.
A local political official said at the time, “Since you are in the area, it would be polite to visit and say hello, but I don’t get the chance.” He added, “Even after being pardoned, the pain has been shooting up my left toe recently, and the condition of the disc has not improved, so I can’t walk up and down the stairs in my residence.” “There is also talk that you need help from bodyguards,” he said.
The guesswork is completely gone this time. An official from the Dalseong-gun Saemaeul Association said, “I saw former President Park’s calmness and dignity in an interview with the media where he said, ‘I was impeached against my will, and I sincerely apologize to the people.’ “Even the rumors of abnormalities have been completely put to rest,” he said.
Former President Park Geun-hye shops at Hyeonpung Baeknyeondokkaebi Market in Dalseong-gun, Daegu on the 25th before Chuseok. Reporter Kim Young-jin kyjmaeil@imaeil.com
A trader at Dokkaebi Market Hyeonpung Baeknyeon also said, “I couldn’t even see your face for over a year, so I thought you were really in poor health, but when I saw your face in the market, I was happy to see that your health was so good. I hope you will continue to be healthy and show your face to the residents often.” he said.
Regarding the expression of disappointment towards the so-called ‘pro-Park’ legislators, some responded that they felt the sincerity of former President Park.
Former President Park said in a media interview, “Among the so-called ‘pro-Park’ lawmakers, there were some who supported impeachment, and most of them never asked me how I was doing. done during my long imprisonment. I am a friend of mine. my younger brother (EG Chairman Ji-Man Park) “After hearing that Rep. In and the former floor leader also support impeachment, I thought a lot about people’s trust and humanity ,” he expressed his disappointment.
At the same time, former President Park drew a line regarding the rumor that a member of Park’s party will run in next year’s general election, saying, “I don’t want people to say that (the candidacy) is linked to me . . I hope that past relationships will pass as past relationships.”
Former President Park Geun-hye shops at Hyeonpung Baeknyeondokkaebi Market in Dalseong-gun, Daegu on the 25th before Chuseok. Reporter Kim Young-jin kyjmaeil@imaeil.com
Regarding this, a member of the Dalseong Welcome Group who loves President Park Geun-hye said, “Seeing former President Park express his disappointment towards the so-called ‘pro-Park’ lawmaker , I felt the dangerous opportunity and delicacy of public sentiment. in the world.” “I hope that former President Park, as a former president, will live with the local community and become a local adult,” he said.
A local politician said, “I believe former President Park’s ‘my fault, apology to the people’ clearly shows the dignity of a national elder who went through a period of shame and disgrace, including being elected president, impeachment , imprisonment, and pardon and reinstatement as a five term member of the National Assembly.” “It is compared to the behavior of other former presidents who do not recognize any policy failures while in office and are still focused on dividing the public,” he said.
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