Jeon Du-hwan Memorial Ilhae Park in Hapcheon, Gyeongnam
Renamed by 'Saengmyeong-ui Sup' in 2007
"Let's prevent honoring serious criminals"
A national petition calling for the abolition of Ilhae Park in Hapcheon, Gyeongnam?named after former President Jeon Du-hwan’s pen name?and the enactment of a law prohibiting the creation of related memorials has received support from over 59,000 people. According to the National Assembly’s public petition website on the 9th, the petition surpassed 50,000 signatures the previous day and is expected to be referred to the relevant standing committee of the National Assembly.
The petition was posted on the 15th of last month under the title “Petition to Abolish the Park Praising Jeon Du-hwan and Request the Enactment of Related Laws.” The group behind the petition, the “Hapcheon Citizens’ Movement Headquarters to Reclaim the Forest of Life,” expressed their intention to enact a law that prohibits the establishment of commemorative projects and memorials for individuals who have been convicted by the judiciary for violating the Constitution and laws.
The petitioner stated, “The Jeon Du-hwan regime is remembered as the worst regime that trampled on the human rights of the people and suppressed democracy,” and added, “Yet, there is still Ilhae Park in our society that praises Jeon Du-hwan.” They continued, “The park’s marker stone, handwritten by Jeon Du-hwan himself, reads: ‘This park is named Ilhae Park after the president’s pen name to eternally commemorate to future generations that this is the proud hometown where the 12th President of the Republic of Korea, Jeon Du-hwan, was born.’ This glorifies Jeon Du-hwan’s crimes and justifies his dictatorship, wasting taxpayers’ money,” they pointed out.
Petition posted on the 15th of last month titled 'Request for the abolition of the park praising Jeon Du-hwan and the enactment of related laws.' National Assembly Public Petition Website
They wrote, “Jeon Du-hwan neither revealed nor apologized for his crimes until his death,” and “Rather than remembering his death as an ordinary natural person, we should remember his crimes and criticize his dictatorship. However, Ilhae Park has become a place where his memorial altar is set up, glorifying his crimes.”
They urged, “Please enact a law that prohibits the establishment of commemorative projects and memorials for those who have committed serious crimes, violated the Constitution and laws, and have been convicted by the judiciary,” and emphasized, “To protect the human rights of the people and democracy, please join us in abolishing Ilhae Park and enacting a law to ban the creation of Jeon Du-hwan memorials.”
Ilhae Park was renamed in 2007 after Jeon Du-hwan’s pen name to honor his achievements and promote Hapcheon. When it opened in 2004, it was called “Millennium Forest of Life Park,” but after the name was changed to Ilhae Park, opposition to the park’s name arose from May 18-related groups and local civic organizations.
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