By Kim Jae-won
A Seoul district office that is considering constructing a memorial park for former President Park Chung-hee, is the target of strong criticism from local residents who accuse it of wasting money to glorify the authoritarian leader.
Jun-gu District in central Seoul said Wednesday that it will build a memorial park in memory of the ex-president who lived in the district for three years before he came to power after leading a coup d'etat in 1961.
The late Park, father of incumbent President Park Geun-hye, ruled the country with an iron fist for 18 years, until he was assassinated by the director of the Korea Central Intelligence Agency in 1979.
"We are examining the feasibility of setting up the memorial park. We will decide on the matter based on the results," said a spokeswoman of the district.
According to sources in the district office, the size of the memorial park would be about 4,000 square meters with an estimated cost of around 20 billion won.
The project prompted a backlash of criticism on the Internet.
"I hope the district does not waste money on commemorating a dictator. How about spending funds on improving quality of life for residents? Or spending it on the offspring of independent fighters and pro-democracy activists?" wrote a local resident surnamed Lim on the district's website.
Another resident surnamed Nam said that the planned park will be of no use to people, apart from damaging the image of the area.
"As a resident of Jungu District, I oppose building the Park Chung-hee Memorial Park and his statue. The residents will recall the district mayor if he spends taxes on such a project."
Observers say that Jungu District Mayor Choi Chang-shik is seeking to curry favor with President Park Geun-hye through the memorial park because municipal elections are scheduled for June 2014. Choi is expected to run for a second term during this.
However, some senior residents supported Choi and the district office, saying it is the duty of citizens to remember a president who "saved" people from poverty.
"I am impressed with the decision of the district mayor. I respect President Park Chung-hee who set people free from poverty," said a citizen who identified himself by his family name, Son.
A Seoul district office that is considering constructing a memorial park for former President Park Chung-hee, is the target of strong criticism from local residents who accuse it of wasting money to glorify the authoritarian leader.
Jun-gu District in central Seoul said Wednesday that it will build a memorial park in memory of the ex-president who lived in the district for three years before he came to power after leading a coup d'etat in 1961.
The late Park, father of incumbent President Park Geun-hye, ruled the country with an iron fist for 18 years, until he was assassinated by the director of the Korea Central Intelligence Agency in 1979.
"We are examining the feasibility of setting up the memorial park. We will decide on the matter based on the results," said a spokeswoman of the district.
According to sources in the district office, the size of the memorial park would be about 4,000 square meters with an estimated cost of around 20 billion won.
The project prompted a backlash of criticism on the Internet.
"I hope the district does not waste money on commemorating a dictator. How about spending funds on improving quality of life for residents? Or spending it on the offspring of independent fighters and pro-democracy activists?" wrote a local resident surnamed Lim on the district's website.
Another resident surnamed Nam said that the planned park will be of no use to people, apart from damaging the image of the area.
"As a resident of Jungu District, I oppose building the Park Chung-hee Memorial Park and his statue. The residents will recall the district mayor if he spends taxes on such a project."
Observers say that Jungu District Mayor Choi Chang-shik is seeking to curry favor with President Park Geun-hye through the memorial park because municipal elections are scheduled for June 2014. Choi is expected to run for a second term during this.
However, some senior residents supported Choi and the district office, saying it is the duty of citizens to remember a president who "saved" people from poverty.
"I am impressed with the decision of the district mayor. I respect President Park Chung-hee who set people free from poverty," said a citizen who identified himself by his family name, Son.
