Byeon Hee-jae Files Complaint with Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs
Hong Joon-pyo Shows Special Affection for Statue
As reactions continue that the statue of former President Park Chung-hee recently installed in the plaza of Dongdaegu Station resembles Hong Joon-pyo, the mayor of Daegu, conservative commentator Byeon Hee-jae filed a complaint with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. On the 31st of last month, Byeon stated on his YouTube channel, "I filed a complaint with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs requesting a ruling that this is not a statue of Park Chung-hee. When I put glasses on the statue, the face looks exactly like Mayor Hong Joon-pyo of Daegu. Isn't this a statue of Hong Joon-pyo?"
As the claim spread, a netizen posted a photo of the statue with glasses drawn on it, saying, "The 'Park Chung-hee statue' that looks more like Hong Joon-pyo is a hot topic," and added, "Such an embarrassing object should be classified as obscene." Online community
He continued, "The fake statue of President Park Chung-hee at Dongdaegu Station must be taken down. The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs has the authority to verify the authenticity of the statue and to remove it." Hwang Soon-gyu, chairman of the Daegu branch of the Progressive Party, also wrote on social media, "What is this shouting for the removal of the Park Chung-hee statue? Isn't this Hong Joon-pyo?" The controversy over the appearance of the statue of former President Park arose shortly after the Daegu city government named the plaza at Dongdaegu Station "Park Chung-hee Plaza" as part of a commemorative project for the former president and erected the statue on the 21st of last month.
The 3-meter-tall statue depicts former President Park in the fall of 1965, wearing a fedora and embracing a bundle of rice stalks with a broad smile. Inscribed on the stone bench surrounding the statue are phrases such as "The road beyond the barley hump, always thinking of the farmers" and "A president who never missed a year of rice planting and harvesting during his 18 years in office." It is reported that 600 million won, including Daegu city budget, was spent on the statue's production.
As the claim spread, one netizen posted a photo of the statue with glasses drawn on it, saying, "The 'Park Chung-hee statue' that looks more like Hong Joon-pyo is a hot topic," and added, "Such an embarrassing object should be classified as obscene." Other netizens responded with comments like, "Did they mix Park Chung-hee and Hong Joon-pyo's faces to target Park supporters' votes?" "Is that why they told civil servants to stand night watch?" and "Just call it a statue of Hong Joon-pyo."
Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo is giving a greeting at the 'Park Chung-hee Statue Unveiling Ceremony' held at Dongdaegu Station Plaza on the afternoon of the 23rd. Photo by Yonhap News
Mayor Hong's affection for the Park Chung-hee statue is also notable. At the unveiling ceremony on the 23rd of last month, Mayor Hong emphasized, "While there are historical evaluations of President Park Chung-hee's merits and demerits, Daegu citizens must not forget the merits." He added, "Along with the patriotic spirit of the National Debt Repayment Movement and the 2.28 Freedom Spirit that resisted the dictatorship of the Liberal Party, President Park Chung-hee's spirit of industrialization is one of Daegu's three proud spirits," and said, "We must properly commemorate and inherit the spirit of industrialization born from former President Park's love for the people and innovative leadership to advance toward a developed nation." Meanwhile, statues of former President Park have been installed one after another recently in Daegu and Gyeongbuk. A statue was erected on the campus of Yeungnam University in October last year, and another was installed in front of the Gyeongbuk Provincial Office in Andong on the 5th of last month.
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