South Korean artist may face suit for political spoof work
Painting depicting presidential candidate giving birth to her late father outrages party officials
South Korea's ruling party has threatened to sue an artist who painted its presidential candidate giving birth to her father, former dictator Park Chung-hee, likening the work to Nazi propaganda.
The painting by left-wing artist Hong Sung-dam is being shown as part of an exhibition in Seoul that offers a critical perspective on Park's 1961-79 military rule.
It shows Park's never-married daughter Park Geun-hye, who is the ruling New Frontier Party candidate for the December 19 presidential election, giving birth in a hospital maternity ward surrounded by doctors and nurses.
The new-born baby bears a close resemblance to her father and is shown wearing his trademark sunglasses.
Outraged ruling party officials condemned the painting as offensive and a piece of "evil" propaganda aimed at tarnishing their candidate's image ahead of the vote.
"Art, once used for political propaganda, is no longer art. The painting reminds me of [Joseph] Goebbels who massacred countless Jews by using political propaganda for Nazis," party member Kwon Young-se said.
"We plan to take all possible legal actions against Hong's painting on behalf of not only Park Geun-Hye but also all women," he said, arguing the artwork denigrated "the most sacred moment in women's lives".