Hong Jun-pyo: "All kinds of controversies over Park Chung-hee memorial projects... Even if dogs bark, the train goes on"

"Jeong Yulseong Also Spends 50 Billion Won on Commemorative Project"

Hong Joon-pyo, the mayor of Daegu, reiterated his intention to promote a memorial project for former President Park Chung-hee.

On the 7th, Mayor Hong posted on his Facebook, "A statue of Jeong Yul-seong, a voluntary defector to North Korea, and a park are being built with 50 billion won of national and local funds," adding, "Some groups that say nothing about this are slandering and disputing the memorial project for former President Park Chung-hee."

He continued, "I will not run the city administration while watching zombie-like groups that only oppose and falsely accuse the mayor whenever they open their mouths," and wrote, "Even if dogs bark, the train goes on."

Hong Joon-pyo, Mayor of Daegu. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Recently, Mayor Hong officially announced the promotion of the memorial project for former President Park. He said, "When I went to Gwangju for the Moonlight Railroad celebration, traces of former President Kim Dae-jung's achievements were everywhere, but when I looked around Daegu, I regretted that there were no visible achievements or traces of former President Park," adding, "Since Daegu and Gwangju are cooperating as the Moonlight Alliance, there is also an opinion that there should be a historical reconciliation between the two political giants representing Daegu and Gwangju."

Mayor Hong said, "We are considering naming the plaza at Dongdaegu Station as Park Chung-hee Plaza and erecting a statue of the late former President Park Chung-hee in front of it," and added, "We will gather citizens' opinions."

However, opposition parties and some civic groups are protesting, causing controversy. The Democratic Party Daegu branch pointed out on the 4th, "Former President Park Chung-hee is already a figure whose evaluation by the people is concluded," and said, "This issue is wrong."

The Daegu Citizens' Solidarity also issued a statement on the 5th opposing the memorial project, saying, "The oppression of democracy and human rights during Park Chung-hee's dictatorship still continues in the bodies and minds of victims and in the lives of victims' families."