Is the Park Chunghee Statue at Dongdaegu Station Really Resembling Hong Joonpyo? Daegu Gyeongsilryeon Demands Immediate Removal

On June 25, Daegu Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice (Daegu Gyeongsilryeon) argued that the statue of Park Chunghee erected at Dongdaegu Station Square resembles former Daegu Mayor Hong Joonpyo and demanded its immediate removal.

In a press release issued the same day, Daegu Gyeongsilryeon stated, "Daegu City must remove the statue of former President Park Chunghee, which resembles former Daegu Mayor Hong Joonpyo, as well as related facilities. The issue of the statue of former President Park Chunghee, which resembles former Mayor Hong Joonpyo, or the statue of former Mayor Hong Joonpyo, which resembles former President Park Chunghee, installed at Dongdaegu Station Square, was also raised at the Daegu City Council."

Does this statue of Park Chunghee really resemble former Daegu Mayor Hong Joonpyo? The unveiling ceremony of the Park Chunghee statue held at Dongdaegu Station on December 23 last year.

Daegu Gyeongsilryeon continued, "At the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts of the Daegu City Council held on the 23rd, Councilor Lee Youngae (People Power Party, Dalseo-gu District 1) expressed her opinion on the project to construct the statue, stating, 'I thought the image of President Park Chunghee's statue at Dongdaegu Station Square was nothing like the real person. There are even comments that it resembles someone else.' Reportedly, Councilor Lee even said to the head of the Daegu City Administration Bureau, who disagreed with her, 'The face of the statue is completely different, isn't it? Shouldn't you admit that?'"

In response to Councilor Lee's remarks, Ahn Junggon, head of the Daegu City Administration Bureau, said, "We were extremely careful in selecting the work. In trying to depict former President Park's contribution to industrialization, we created a statue of him holding rice straw," denying any resemblance to former Mayor Hong. He added, "I believe the similarity between the photo of former President Park, which served as the motif for the statue, and the actual statue is very high."

Daegu Gyeongsilryeon pointed out, "Considering the controversy over the statue's face resembling former Mayor Hong Joonpyo, the resulting public debate, the lawsuit with the Korea National Railway, the issue of round-the-clock guards, and the glorification and idolization of a dictator, the removal of the statue of former President Park Chunghee and related facilities at Dongdaegu Station Square is something that even citizens favorable toward Park Chunghee and commemorative projects could agree with."

Daegu Gyeongsilryeon further stated, "Councilor Lee Youngae raising the issue of the statue of former President Park Chunghee, which resembles former Mayor Hong Joonpyo, at the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts of the Daegu City Council is significant, regardless of her intentions. It also demonstrates that even citizens who are favorable toward Park Chunghee and commemorative projects have considerable concerns about the statue of Park Chunghee installed at Dongdaegu Station Square," urging, "The removal of the Park Chunghee statue at Dongdaegu Station Square should no longer be delayed."