President Park Geun-hye refused to accept orchids sent by the main opposition party’s interim leader Kim Jong-in to celebrate her 64th birthday on Tuesday, an icy gesture to the former architect of her economic policy.

The Minjoo Party of Korea said that it tried to send the flower to Cheong Wa Dae around 9 a.m., but received a call some 50 minutes later from the presidential office that she will “respectfully decline.” Two more attempts to send the orchids were also turned down.

“Politics aside, we felt it was only fair to show manners. We felt the need to show (the president) that we the opposition are willing to cooperate in talks and state affairs, and also to show a small but heartfelt gesture for the people of Korea ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays,” said party spokesman Kim Sung-soo. “It is regretful that such a gesture was rejected, in a somewhat ridiculous way.”

The presiden’t cold shoulder coincided with her ruling Saenuri Party launching attacks against the man once credited for leading the economic democratization campaign for Park in the 2012 presidential election.

Saenuri distributed a handout to reporters prior to the party meeting on Tuesday, accusing Kim of siding with whoever is in power while being “corrupt and inconsistent.”

(minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)