Park calls for unity behind party leadership

Makes no mention of state affairs scandal

Former President Park Geun-hye delivers remarks at the 2026 People Power Party lawmakers' workshop held at Sono Calm Goyang in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on Thursday. [Yonhap]
Former President Park Geun-hye delivers remarks at the 2026 People Power Party lawmakers' workshop held at Sono Calm Goyang in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, on Thursday. [Yonhap]

Former President Park Geun-hye told the People Power Party on Thursday that if its members pool their strength and work together, the party can win back public trust, become the majority and "reclaim power once again."

Park made the remarks in a speech at the PPP lawmakers' workshop held at Sono Calm Goyang in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, urging the party leadership to "carefully read where the public's will lies and lead the party accordingly."

It was the first time Park had attended an official party-hosted event since she was impeached and imprisoned over the state affairs scandal in 2017 and later granted a special pardon. She had been expelled from the party in November 2017.

"The People Power Party is struggling as a minority opposition party right now, but if we face reality squarely and unite our efforts, we can earn the public's trust, become the majority and reclaim power once again," she said.

She then warned that internal division is the most dangerous enemy when fighting external opponents. "Various opinions can emerge within a party, but we must not hate or deny one another," she said. "I hope your sense of comradeship grows stronger."

She went on to say that the smaller the minority, the more it must stick together. "If a party already struggling against the majority also fractures from within, the outcome of that fight is a foregone conclusion," she said.

"The most important thing in politics is trust," Park said. "A party that lacks integrity within itself cannot survive."

She then said the nation must come before individual interests, the lives of the people before minor factional concerns within the party, and the future of South Korea before political calculations of gain or loss. "If you make these efforts with sincerity, the people will find hope in you and will surely give you an opportunity," she said.

She also stressed that "regaining the public's trust is reform, and resolving what the people are suffering from and desperately want is innovation."

Park made no mention of her impeachment or the state affairs scandal that led to it.


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