Yoon vows to uphold spirit of ex-President Park

Oct 27, 2023, 09:34 am

		0
President Yoon Suk-yeol salutes the national flag with former President Park Geun-hye (left) and People Power Party (PPP) leader Kim Gi-hyeon (right) during a ceremony to mark the 44th anniversary of the death of Park’s father, ex-President Park Chung-hee, at the National Cemetery in Seoul on Oct. 26, 2023. / Source: Yonhap News

AsiaToday reporter Hong Sun-mi

President Yoon Suk-yeol on Thursday praised late President Park Chung-hee, saying, “In the current global multifaceted crisis, we have to rekindle the spirit and achievements of former President Park Chung-hee and make the Republic of Korea take a new leap.”

“Former President Park Chung-hee rallied our citizens under the slogan, ‘it can be done,’ and strongly promoted the country’s industrialization, which is a historic global milestone known as the Miracle on the Han River,” Yoon said in his address during a memorial ceremony honoring former conservative President Park Chung-hee at the ceremony at the National Cemetery in Seoul.

Yoon attended the ceremony just hours after he arrived from a six-day trip to Saudi Arabia and Qatar. According to the presidential office, it was the first time for a serving president to attend the ceremony, which has been taking place every year since 1980.

Former President Park Geun-hye, the eldest daughter of late Park, also attended the memorial ceremony for the first time in 11 years. It was the first time in a year and a half that President Yoon has met with Park Geun-hye in person since he visited her home in Daegu as an elected president in April last year.

During the ceremony, Yoon was the first to greet Park Geun-hye, who had arrived first at the venue, according to presidential spokesperson Lee Do-woon.

“The industrialization achieved by President Park Chung-hee became a strong foundation for the development of democracy in the country,” Yoon said. “We must learn his insight, determination, and courage in memory of President Park Chung-hee.”

#Yoon Suk-yeol #Park Chung-hee #memorial #Park Geun-hye