"Choi Jae-hyung Launches 'Park Chung-hee Marketing': 'I Attended Blue House Parties as a Child... Park's Achievements Must Be Remembered Long"

Former Chairperson of the Board of Audit and Inspection and People Power Party presidential candidate Choi Jae-hyung is seen leaving after paying tribute at the birthplace of former President Park Chung-hee in Sangmo-dong, Gumi-si, Gyeongbuk on the 6th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Soyoung] Former Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choi Jae-hyung, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, has strongly urged the pardon of former President Park Geun-hye. At the same time, he revealed his past connection with former President Park Chung-hee, drawing evaluations that he has embarked on a full-fledged campaign to capture the votes of the traditional conservative base.

On the 6th, Choi visited the birthplace of former President Park Chung-hee in Gumi, Gyeongbuk, and urged, "If President Moon Jae-in wants national unity, he should make the bold decision to pardon former President Park Geun-hye today." He added, "He should fulfill the national presidential duty of great national unity without worrying about the eyes of his own camp."

He continued, "Today, visiting the birthplace, I saw a photo of former President Park Chung-hee and his daughter Park Geun-hye taken affectionately together," and said, "It is heartbreaking that the elderly former President Park continues to serve her sentence in this heat, and such a situation should not continue any longer." While acknowledging, "The Constitutional Court is the only institution that can impeach within the constitutional system, and legally, we have no choice but to respect its decision," he added, "It is not desirable to keep asking about the past and holding opinions about the past that divide the country."

Choi also left a guestbook message stating, "With foresight looking toward the country's future, I will further develop the patriotism and love for the people of President Park Chung-hee, who firmly laid the foundation for the development of the Republic of Korea."

In the afternoon, at a meeting with local media from Daegu and Gyeongbuk held at the Daegu City Party Office, Choi said, "My late father (the late retired Colonel Choi Young-seop) served closely as the General Secretary during the time when Park Chung-hee was Chairman of the Supreme Council for National Reconstruction for two years," and added, "I remember going to the Blue House to enjoy year-end parties with the secretaries of the Blue House when I was young."

He said, "Because of these various connections, I visited the birthplace of former President Park Chung-hee on my first visit to the Daegu and Gyeongbuk region today," and praised, "(President Park Chung-hee) had a firm belief that the future of our country should be led by heavy chemical industry and export industries, achieving industrialization and laying a solid foundation. We should remember and be grateful for the achievements of President Park, who laid the foundation for the prosperity we enjoy today, for a long time."

On the other hand, he criticized the Moon Jae-in administration, saying, "Instead of competent people, they appointed people from their own camp, so many policies of our country have not been properly implemented. They made the country difficult by not correcting wrong choices."

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