When Park Jung-hee he ran into opposition or scandals, they used to arrest lots of actors and singers for marijuana. This would make headlines in those days and divert attention from the scandals.
In the past six months, we have seen almost daily news of drug busts and several thousand have been rounded up. Deja-vu. Just coincidence?
Today's headline on Yonhap News TV, "785 people arrested for drugs".
On Korean TV, I saw only one report about pot legalization in California and it seemed like reefer madness all over again.
Another favorite tactic was to frame opposition figures as communist sympathizers or spies. A tradition that resonates even today.
Between 2-3 million are expected to demonstrate against Park this Saturday. President Park and her cronies are confident that the protests will eventually peter out and her army of "guest commentators" on TV news shows are out in full force defending the President and trying to stir up indignation. Her army of protesters (allegedly backed by the Federation of Korean Industries which is allegedly controlled by Presidential aides) are out on the streets.
Korea Times: Park supporters 'hit JTBC reporters'
A great way to deflect attention would be for President Park to come out in favor of medicinal marijuana and say that research into medicinal uses should be allowed. She could also call for legislation to allow export zones (maybe where unemployed old people could work there) to grow it for export to the US, and other countries. That would definitely create a lot of controversy and stir up emotions. Pharmaceutical and alcoholic beverage companies would go to war!
