Yoon invites ex-President Park to inauguration ceremony

Apr 13, 2022, 08:07 am

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President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol and former President Park Geun-hye shake hands at Park’s residence in Daegu on April 12, 2022./ Source: President-elect’s spokesman’s office

AsiaToday reporter Lee Yoo-jin

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol met with former President Park Geun-hye on Tuesday, expressing his apologies for their past relationship surrounding a corruption investigation of Park and inviting her to his inauguration ceremony to be held next month.

“We have past history. I told her I felt sorry about that,” Yoon told reporters after paying a visit to Park at her residence in her hometown Daegu. Yoon led an investigation team in 2016 into Park’s corruption scandal which led to her impeachment.

Yoon said they also talked about Park’s health and whether there were any inconveniences with her current living arrangements.

Vice chair of Yoon’s transition committee Kwon Young-se and Park’s aide and lawyer Yoo Young-ha, who were also present at the meeting, said the mood was very amicable.

According to them, the president-elect expressed regret for his bad relationship with Park. In response, Park listened calmly without making any comments, Yoo said.

“I feel regret over the fact that good policies and achievements of Park are not recognized,” Yoon said, adding that he will try to regain her honor by making efforts to publicize Park’s achievements after taking office.

“The president-elect humbly invited Park to his May 10 inauguration ceremony, and Park said she would try to be there,” officials of both sides said.

Park said she wishes Yoon will become a good president. In response, Yoon asked Park to give him a lot of advice. Park also stressed that the economy could not develop without a strong foundation in diplomacy and security, and urged Yoon to build trust with many countries.

Yoon also mentioned Park’s father and late former President Park Chung-hee, saying he looked into how Park Chung-hee ran the Cabinet and the presidential office, and is learning from how he handled state affairs.

#Yoon Suk-yeol #Park Geun-hye #inauguration ceremony