Lee: "Park Chung-hee Destroyed Democracy but Also Contributed to Industrialization"

Lee Jaemyung Campaigns in Gumi, Park Chung-hee's Hometown
"If Park Had Not Committed Illegal Acts or Oppression, He Would Have Been Praised"

Lee Jaemyung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, visited Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, during his campaign and offered a dual assessment of former President Park Chung-hee, stating, "He destroyed democracy, but he also contributed to industrialization."

Yonhap News

On May 13, at Gumi Station Square in North Gyeongsang Province, Lee said, "When I was young, I thought of former President Park as a very bad person who was dictatorial, used the military and judicial authorities to commit judicial murders and torture, and destroyed democracy by staying in power for a long time." He added, "But on the other hand, he also contributed to the industrialization of this country." Gumi is the hometown of former President Park.

Lee asked, "If former President Park had come to power through a democratic process without a coup, had acquired democratic values, and had simply managed the country well and made it prosperous, wouldn't he have been praised?" He continued, "However, all of this is already in the past, and what I want to say is that if there are loyal and competent workers for the nation and the people, the world can change dramatically."

In Gumi, a conservative stronghold, Lee appealed for support. He said, "When I was young in my hometown Andong, Daegu and Gumi were incredibly impressive cities, but now I see that nothing has changed," and asked, "Why has it become like this?"

He went on to say, "Although Gumi is the birthplace of former President Park, I heard that there was once a Democratic Party mayor, which is remarkable. It is not remarkable because they voted for the Democratic Party, but because they showed they could make a different choice." He emphasized, "They showed that it is possible to make a different choice, and that there are plenty of people I can put to work besides you (the conservatives). I hope you will give Lee Jaemyung a chance to work as well."

Regarding the cancellation by Gumi City of singer Lee Seunghwan's concert venue reservation, he criticized, "Why are you being so petty? Is this the private property of a particular political force?" He contrasted this with his own experience as mayor of Seongnam, when he supported conservative-leaning social service organizations. Lee said, "At the time, I gathered the organizations and told them, 'Don't take anyone's side, not even mine. Just focus on the original purpose of your group, which is volunteer and contribution activities.' I provided them with a lot of budget support, office space, and other help, and as a result, everyone ended up on our side."

He also emphasized the need to introduce the renewable energy profit-sharing system, "Sunlight Pension." He said, "It is said that South Korea spends between 180 trillion and over 200 trillion won annually on energy imports. Now, in the era of renewable energy, global companies no longer buy products made with fossil fuels." He continued, "South Korea currently does not even have enough renewable energy for just Samsung Electronics, so global companies are moving their production bases overseas. If domestic production and jobs decrease and the national economy is harmed, we must come up with countermeasures."

Referring to the case of Guyang-ri in Yeoju, he said, "It's a small village, but with solar power facilities installed, the monthly net profit is 10 million won, so meals are free for the villagers, buses run for free, and a young person has been hired as an office manager. If we build a few (power facilities) in each valley, people can make a living, and we can create the sunlight pension we talk about. Why aren't we doing this?"

Lee said, "When former President Park built highways, it became possible to have agriculture for sale, and I want to copy a policy like this. If we just build a power transmission and distribution network in rural county-level areas with low population density so they can sell electricity, rural communities will have a way to survive, jobs will be created, and industry will develop."

Lee concluded, "There is an endless amount of work to be done, and depending on who does it, a completely different world can open up. People say 'they're all the same,' but they are not all the same."