People Power Party turns out in force for Park Chung Hee memorial: “Build a new Korea in his spirit”

[Financial News] As a memorial service marking the 47th anniversary of former President Park Chung Hee’s death was held, the People Power Party leadership—including leader Jang Dong-hyuk and floor leader Chung Jeom-sik—as well as Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon turned out in force. With the former president regarded as the spiritual foundation of conservative parties, and controversy over historical distortion in the film “Assassin(s)” adding to the debate, a flurry of messages sought to rally the conservative base.
According to political circles on the 26th, the memorial service marking the 47th anniversary of the former president’s death was held that day at his gravesite at Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak District. Attendees included bereaved family members, including his second daughter, Park Geun-ryeong, former chair of the Yukyoung Foundation; party leaders and lawmakers, including Jang, floor leader Chung, Policy Committee Chair Im I-ja and Secretary-General Jeong Hee-yong; Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kwon Oh-eul; and Mayor Oh. Former President Park Geun-hye attended instead a memorial service and dinner welcoming nurses dispatched to Germany, who were visiting Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, held there on the 25th.
Jang wrote in the memorial service guestbook, “Devote my life to my country and people; build a new Republic of Korea with the spirit of Park Chung Hee.” During the controversy over “Assassin(s),” Jang said that former presidents Lee Ki-poong and Park Chung Hee had led the founding of a liberal democracy and the country’s industrialization, and denounced attempts to undermine that legacy as “a denial of the legitimacy of the Republic of Korea.”
In his memorial address, Mayor Oh said, “At a time when escaping poverty was an urgent national task, former President Park presented industrialization as the country’s future,” adding that he “instilled in the entire nation the confidence that ‘we can do it.’” He continued, “This year, I miss him even more, along with Madam Yuk Young-soo, who was especially kind,” and said, “As the Republic of Korea grows more prosperous, I will do my part to improve the quality of life for its people.”
Lawmaker Na Kyung-won said, “The opposition and agitation without alternatives from those blocking economic security and the future of the Republic of Korea are no different now than they were then. What is different is the leader’s attitude,” stressing, “Together with the people, we will build the prosperous and strong Republic of Korea that the president dreamed of.” Lawmaker Lee Jin-sook said, “Just as former President Park did not accept poverty as fate, we too will not accept today’s crisis as destiny,” adding, “We will fight politics that undermines national security and hold accountable those in power who damage the rule of law and liberal democracy.”
At a Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly before the memorial service, floor leader Chung Jeom-sik said, “Former President Park’s greatest legacy was instilling hope and confidence in the people through the spirit of ‘It can be done’ and ‘Let’s live well.’” He added, “Leftists’ reckless attempts to distort and disparage his great achievements continue unabated, but one movie and lowbrow agitation cannot conceal the truth of our great history.”
Meanwhile, former President Park Geun-hye attended a dinner on the 25th at Geumosan Hotel in Gumi welcoming nurses dispatched to Germany who were visiting the city. She said, “With the single-minded resolve to make this a prosperous country, my father devoted everything to his work,” adding, “We know that the great DNA of overcoming national crises by joining forces in difficult times flows through our veins.” Addressing the nurses dispatched to Germany, she said, “I bow my head when I think of you, who left for a faraway land, Germany, 60 years ago to help develop your impoverished homeland and devoted yourselves solely to your families and country,” and expressed her gratitude, saying, “The tears and sweat you shed became the cornerstone of our country’s transformation from a poor nation into a developed one.”

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