Five Opposition Parties in Daegu Hold Citizens' Rally to Condemn Hong Jun-pyo
Cha Gyu-geun: "Park Chung-hee Swore Loyalty to Japan with Blood Pledge"
Conservative Groups Support Installing Statue to Honor Spirit of Industrialization
Daegu city officials taking a commemorative photo in front of the Park Chung-hee Square sign. Photo by Yonhap News
In Daegu Metropolitan City, pro and con rallies related to 'Park Chung-hee Square' were held simultaneously on the same day.
The Democratic Party of Korea and the Daegu-area five opposition parties, including the Anti-Park Chung-hee Idolization Civic Movement Headquarters, held the '4th Citizens' Rally Against the Park Chung-hee Idolization Project and Condemning Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo' last weekend in Dongsung-ro, Jung-gu, Daegu.
They condemned the recent naming of the plaza in front of Dongdaegu Station as 'Park Chung-hee Square' by the Daegu city government and the installation of the signboard. About 100 people, including Cha Gyu-geun, chairman of the Daegu branch of the Party for National Innovation, Han Min-jung, chairwoman of the Daegu branch of the Justice Party, and representatives of civic groups, attended the rally.
Chairman Cha Gyu-geun said on the day, "How can you erect a signboard of Park Chung-hee, who pledged loyalty to Japan with a blood oath, in front of Dongdaegu Station just a day before Liberation Day?" He added, "Mayor Hong Joon-pyo is pushing forward the idolization work of North Korea, which he dislikes so much, here in Daegu."
Meanwhile, at the same time across the street, a counter-rally by conservative groups welcoming the installation of a statue of former President Park was held. The National Salvation Daegu Struggle Headquarters and the Daegu Action Right-wing Citizens' Union defended the move, saying, "It is natural to honor the industrialization spirit of former President Park."
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Korea's Daegu branch filed a complaint with the prosecution on the 19th, claiming that the signboard installed in front of Dongdaegu Station was installed illegally and without permission, accusing Mayor Hong.
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