Park Holds Book Launch in Daegu Suseong-gu
"Negotiations on Japan GSOMIA Were Necessary"
Former President Park Geun-hye stated on the 5th regarding her future activities that she "will not engage in politics again." Reflecting on the direction of state affairs since the inauguration of the Moon Jae-in administration, she said, "I believed that GSOMIA (General Security of Military Information Agreement between South Korea and Japan) was absolutely necessary in the relationship with Japan."
On the afternoon of the same day, at a hotel in Suseong-gu, Daegu, during a conversation with the author to commemorate the publication of her memoir "From Darkness to the Future," Park said, "Although I will not engage in politics, the love I have received from the people is immense and I am very grateful, so if there is even a little work to be done, I will do whatever it takes to repay them."
At this event, she mainly mentioned her feelings during the impeachment crisis and her evaluation of the Moon administration. Regarding the Moon administration, Park explained, "In the case of GSOMIA negotiations in relation to Japan, it was necessary for our security," adding, "The ally, the United States, also emphasized the necessity and strongly requested it, so even before the impeachment, I fulfilled my duty by signing the agreement."
Regarding the comfort women agreement, she criticized, "The whole world is watching, and if a hard-won agreement is overturned, which country would trust South Korea?" and added, "There is no choice but to have serious doubts about the continuity of promises."
Regarding criticism that the comfort women agreement was humiliating diplomacy, she said, "I visited the grandmothers related to the comfort women issue and gathered their opinions," and added, "I thought a decision had to be made for the national interest, and even now, I believe that agreement was the best option."
Memoir Book Concert with Former President Park Geun-hye(Daegu=Yonhap News) Reporter Yoon Kwan-sik = Former President Park Geun-hye is attending the 'Conversation with the Author to Commemorate the Publication of Park Geun-hye's Memoir' held at Inter-Burgo Hotel in Suseong-gu, Daegu on the afternoon of the 5th. 2024.2.5 [Joint Coverage]
psik@yna.co.kr
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Regarding the deployment of THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) and relations with China, she said, "If North Korea gives up its nuclear weapons, there would be no need to deploy THAAD, but since they have nuclear weapons, we must take minimum defensive measures," and added, "We discussed this issue with China as a separate matter and agreed to cooperate in other areas. Since then, at international summits held in China, efforts have been made to accommodate South Korea."
Park explained the reason for writing her memoir, saying, "As someone who served as president, I decided to write it so that the regrets can be recorded as they are, and the good decisions can serve as lessons for future generations."
Regarding the major policies she pursued during her tenure, she said, "I worked tirelessly with the United States and the international community to make North Korea give up its nuclear weapons," and added, "Peace without strength is truly dangerous."
Park Geun-hye’s memoir consists of two volumes, each about 400 pages, covering the period from the end of 2012 to March 2022, before moving into her private residence in Dalseong-gun, Daegu. Meanwhile, at the book concert stage that day, lawyer Yoo Young-ha and former Blue House Senior Secretary for Political Affairs Heo Won-je joined former President Park. Guests included former Gyeongbuk Governor Kim Kwan-yong, former lawmaker Seo Sang-gi, former Minister of Agriculture Kim Jae-soo, former Minister of National Defense Kim Kwan-jin, and former Minister of National Defense Han Min-goo.
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