"‘I am a torture victim’ 70-year-old given probation for stabbing rampage at Park Chung-hee Memorial Hall"

Statue Donation Ceremony of Park Chung-hee held at the Park Chung-hee Presidential Memorial Hall on November 13, 2017 [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] A man in his 70s who attempted to damage the Park Chung-hee Presidential Memorial Hall marker stone and threatened an employee with a weapon was sentenced to a suspended prison term.

On the 25th, Judge Yoon Hye-jung of the Seoul Western District Court Criminal Division 10 announced that Park Mo (73), who was indicted on charges including special intimidation, was sentenced to 4 months in prison with a 1-year suspension.

On September 29 last year, around 2 p.m., Park visited the Park Chung-hee Presidential Memorial Hall in Mapo-gu, Seoul, and caused a disturbance. He attempted to damage the marker stone installed in front of the building by striking it with a weapon and threatened a managerial employee, Mr. A, who tried to stop him, with the weapon. It was investigated that Park harbored grievances, claiming that the government under former President Park Chung-hee took 90% of the combat allowance for soldiers dispatched to the Vietnam War.

The marker stone Park struck did not break, so the property damage was considered an attempted crime.

The court stated the sentencing reasons, saying, "The defendant has a prior record, including threatening a neighbor with a pistol-type gas spray in February 2019, and the crime is by no means minor," and added, "Regarding the special intimidation charge, the defendant acknowledged his wrongdoing and showed remorse, and also reached a settlement with the victim."

The Park Chung-hee Presidential Memorial Hall was built in 2012 on land owned by the Seoul Metropolitan Government with national subsidies and private donations by the Park Chung-hee Presidential Memorial Association (currently the Park Chung-hee Presidential Foundation). It consists of exhibition spaces, the Park Chung-hee Library, and auxiliary facilities.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.