Birthplace Address 'Park Jeonghui-ro 107' Gains More Meaning on 107th Birthday Anniversary
Gumico Hosts President Park's Birthday Ceremony... Rich Variety of Cultural Events
Park Jeonghui's Spirit of Challenge Paves Future with Gumi City's Semiconductor Specialized Complex
The address of President Park Chung-hee's birthplace in Gumi, Gyeongbuk, 'Park Chung-hee-ro 107,' carries special significance this year as it coincides with the 107th anniversary of his birth.
Behind the 'color of the Republic of Korea,' which shines brilliantly today at the center of global culture, was the dedication during President Park's era that laid the foundation for the nation's modernization.
The city is carrying forward the spirit of challenge and values that united the entire nation to establish the foundation for national development, and is promoting various projects to pass this on as hope for future generations.
▲Rich commemorative events for President Park's birth anniversary with various cultural activities
As the hometown of the President, Gumi City has held a birth anniversary event every year on November 14, and this year, considering that the date coincides with the College Scholastic Ability Test day, the ceremony will be held indoors at GumiCO at 10:30 a.m. Moving away from the traditional solemn ceremony, various cultural events will be held to attract public interest and honor the President's achievements.
Before the ceremony, on November 9, the movie Ode to My Father will be screened at the Video Media Center, and a lecture by author Kim Jin-myung, who wrote the novel The Rose of Sharon Has Bloomed, will be held at the Saemaeul Movement Theme Park.
In its third year since opening, the Park Chung-hee Presidential Historical Archive is presenting a special exhibition titled Poetry, the Fragrance That Reminds Me of You until January 12 next year. The exhibition conveys the President's patriotic spirit and his affection for Mrs. Yuk Young-soo through poems and video displays, receiving great public acclaim by revealing the President's human side to citizens.
▲Renaming of Daegu Metropolitan Railroad 'Sagok Station' to 'Park Chung-hee Birthplace Station' underway
Gumi City is in the process of renaming Sagok Station on the Daegu Metropolitan Railroad, scheduled to open this December, to 'Park Chung-hee Birthplace Station.' This aims to strengthen connections with local modern historical and cultural infrastructure such as President Park's birthplace, the historical archive, and the Saemaeul Movement Theme Park, and to promote tourism. The city has requested the National Railroad Corporation for the name change, which will be finalized after review by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's station name review committee.
On the private sector side, there has been a movement to name the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Integrated New Airport as Park Chung-hee Airport. On August 29, the 'Park Chung-hee Airport Naming Promotion Committee,' led by the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Residents Association, held its inaugural ceremony and announced future plans and activities.
▲Voluntary cultural activities commemorating President Park by reverence groups
On May 16, a commemorative tower installation and unveiling ceremony was held at Songjeong Park near the Gumi IC entrance, organized by Park Chung-hee and the Republic of Korea. The tower was erected with donations totaling 137 million KRW to honor President Park's achievements in leading Korea's industrialization and the efforts of Gumi industrial complex entrepreneurs and workers.
The commemorative tower symbolizes the 50th anniversary of the Gumi Industrial Complex and the Gyeongbu Expressway and incorporates the symbol of the Saemaeul Movement. Additionally, the Park Chung-hee Statue Construction Promotion Committee has raised 1 billion KRW through public fundraising to build a statue on the site of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Government Millennium Forest, with an unveiling ceremony planned for the end of November.
▲Movie viewing campaign commemorating the 79th Liberation Day and the 50th anniversary of Mrs. Yuk Young-soo's passing
To commemorate the 79th Liberation Day and the 50th anniversary of Mrs. Yuk Young-soo's passing, a movie viewing campaign for And When the Magnolia Blooms was held. About 80 people from the Park Chung-hee Birthplace Preservation Society, Saemaeul organizations, and the Barun Living Council watched the film together on its release date, August 15, sharing a meaningful time. On August 23, over 150 people, including film producer Kim Heung-guk, viewed the movie and took commemorative photos, sharing a significant moment.
▲Semiconductor specialized complex and President Park's legacy
Gumi City has achieved the designation of a semiconductor specialized complex and is accelerating follow-up projects. The growth of the semiconductor industry, a core pillar of South Korea's economy, was made possible by President Park Chung-hee's foresight and leadership. In the 1960s, when Dr. Kang Ki-dong, who was working in the United States, proposed establishing a semiconductor factory in Korea, President Park enacted the Electronics Industry Promotion Act and provided full support. This planted the seeds of the semiconductor industry in Korea, which now plays a pivotal role in the national economy.
▲Carrying President Park's legacy into the future
Mayor Kim Jang-ho said, "As the hometown of President Park Chung-hee, we are carrying out various projects to pass on his national and value perspectives to future generations," adding, "Through the globalization of the Saemaeul Movement spirit and support for academic research, we will internationally promote the President's spirit of challenge and establish Gumi as a city leading national development."
Kim Jang-ho, Mayor of Gumi, delivering a welcome speech at the cultural event commemorating the 106th birthday of President Park Chung-hee last year.
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