S Korea's GNP elects new leader

By Charles Scanlon
BBC, Seoul

South Korea's largest political party has turned to the daughter of a former military dictator to try to reverse its declining fortunes following the impeachment of President Roh Moo-hyun earlier this month.

Park Geun-hye has promised to clean up the party's image

The Grand National Party (GNP) chose Park Geun-hye as its new leader, less than a month before national assembly elections.

The party is suffering a severe backlash after forcing through the vote on impeachment on 12 March.

Park Geun-hye grew up in the presidential mansion after her father staged a military coup in 1961.

She took on the role of first lady in the 1970s after her mother was assassinated.

Her father, Park Chung-hee, was also shot dead by his own security chief five years later.

Despite his harsh rule, President Park is now revered by many as the man who built the South Korean economy.

That legacy has fuelled support for his daughter, who won a landslide victory in the race to lead the opposition GNP.

She said she would transform its image as the corrupt party of the establishment.

There would no longer be any protection for discredited party members.

Clean image

Both the ruling and opposition parties were found to have taken millions of dollars in illegal contributions during the last election.

South Korean politics has been turned on its head in recent days, following a vote to impeach president Roh Moo-hyun, a liberal who came to office promising to clean up politics.

His supporters have since seen a massive surge of support.

If he is cleared by the constitutional court, as many expect, he could return to office in a much stronger position.

That has prompted the opposition to turn to Park Geun-hye.

She has a clean image, and could rally support from those nostalgic for the leadership, order and austerity of a bygone era.