Park Geun-hye Releases Father's Letter Amid 'Assassin(s)' Controversy: "If I Had Been the One Shot and Mother Had Lived"

[Financial News] People Power Party lawmaker Yoo Young-ha disclosed on the 2nd a letter that former President Park Chung Hee sent to former President Park Geun-hye shortly after the shooting of the late Yuk Young-soo. The letter reportedly conveys Park Chung Hee's grief, including the words, "It felt as though the sky had collapsed."
Yoo held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Center that day and disclosed a copy of the letter that Park Chung Hee sent to Park Geun-hye on August 17, shortly after the shooting of Yuk Young-soo on August 15, 1974.
Park Chung Hee wrote, "Mother took the bullet meant for Father in my place and passed away. I have thought many times how wonderful it would have been if I had been the one shot and Mother had lived."
Writing to Park Geun-hye, who was 22 at the time, he added, "Mother took the bullet in my place and left me with all responsibility for you children and all responsibility for this country. At first, it felt as though the sky had collapsed, and I truly could not compose myself. But I thought that I had to be the first to find courage, so I have decided to endure and bear everything from now on. You, too, must steel yourself and endure as much as you can."
He continued, "You must now take your mother's place. I may not be able to fulfill even a fraction of Mother's role, but I will make any sacrifice to become a good father." He added, "Knowing that Geun-hye will return in just 10 hours, I can hardly wait, with every moment feeling like three autumns. Yet the thought of welcoming you home alone at the front door leaves me utterly despondent."
According to Yoo, Park Geun-hye received the letter while returning home from France, where she was studying at the time, shortly after the shooting. Yoo said, "While former President Park Geun-hye was studying in France at the time, she was told by the embassy, 'Something has happened to your mother. You must return home.' While waiting for her flight at the airport, she saw an article in a French newspaper reporting that her mother had been assassinated."
 He added, "There were no direct flights at the time, so she traveled to Korea via Tokyo. She said that by the time she arrived at Tokyo Airport, she had cried all the tears she would ever cry in her lifetime. When she transferred at Tokyo Airport, her younger sister, Park Geun-ryeong, handed her their father's letter, and she read it."
Yoo said, "Former President Park Geun-hye had kept this letter without ever making it public,"
"If it were not for the film, the letter would not have been made public," he said.
Yoo warned the producers of Assassin(s), saying, "Apologize for damaging the honor of the late President Park Chung Hee by distorting history, and issue a public apology to the bereaved family and the people who have been hurt. Show a responsible attitude, including by suspending the film's screening."

[email protected] Lee Hae-ram Reporter