A painting depicting ruling Saenuri Party presidential hopeful Park Geun-hye giving birth to a baby who looks like her late father has fueled fresh controversy about freedom of expression and political exploitation of art ahead of the December election.

The painting by Hong Sung-dam, a member of the country's progressive Minjung art movement, shows Park reclining in a hospital delivery room with her legs in stirrups, and expressing joy at having given birth to a baby boy wearing sunglasses.

The work also shows a doctor saluting the newborn in military fashion, while another in surgical mask is giving a "V sign" with her fingers.

The candidate's father Park Chung-hee was a major general in the South Korean Army when he took power through a coup in 1961 and ruled the country until his assassination in 1979. A famous photo of the military's takeover has Park wearing his uniform in front of the central government complex in Seoul and wearing sunglasses in the midst of other officers armed with guns.

The senior Park is credited with bringing about South Korea's rapid industrialization and economic growth, but is also blamed for various human rights abuses and his harsh suppression of democracy.

The candidate's election camp said the painting on display at the Peace Museum has been widely circulated on the Internet and can only be viewed as being politically motivated. It said the content of the painting aims to hurt the conservative candidate's image and give the impression that she will strive to turn back the clock on democratization.

Saenuri lawmaker Kang Eun-hee said in a radio broadcast earlier in the day that turning the sacred act of giving birth into a political satire is a shock and affront to all women.

Other party officials said that while local progressives are citing freedom of expression to defend the painting, this cannot hide the fact that the work's real aim is to hurt Park ahead of the Dec. 19 presidential race.

Saenuri said it is considering legal action against the painter for his work, and could include asking the Constitutional Court of Korea to review the matter.

In response, Hong emphasized that the painting aims to warn against the threat of authoritarianism.

The artist, who was charged in the past of violating the country's national security law, added that his work is satire aimed at criticizing social irrationality. He stressed that satirical work is a legitimate form of art.

Others who support his view said Saenuri was overreacting to a work of art.

The painting, which has spread rapidly through the country's social network services, has generally received negative publicity for being overly political and repugnant to women. (Yonhap News)