Former Masan Branch Chief Park Yong-ho Gains Attention for '600km National Cross-Country Trek'

Expressing the Wish for 'Peaceful Unification and Hosting the 2030 Busan Expo'

From September 28 to October 9, 12 Days

From Imjingak to Busan Eulsukdo Estuary Embankment

"We wish for 'peaceful reunification,' the aspiration of our nation, and the successful bid for the '2030 Busan Expo."

These were the remarks made by Park Yong-ho, a prosecutor at the Busan High Prosecutors' Office, upon arriving at the Eulsukdo Estuary in Busan on the morning of the 9th, after completing a 12-day cross-country trek.

Park Yong-ho, Busan High Prosecutors' Office prosecutor. [Photo by So-eun Joo]

Amid starkly divided public opinion on prosecutorial reform, split between political factions and the public, a mid-level prosecutor has drawn attention by embarking on a cross-country trek to pray for the nation's heartfelt wishes of 'peaceful reunification' and the '2030 Busan Expo bid.'

Park Yong-ho, recently appointed as a prosecutor at the Busan High Prosecutors' Office in the latest mid-level personnel reshuffle, started his grueling 12-day journey at 5 a.m. on the 28th of last month from Imjingak, near Panmunjom, and arrived at his final destination, Eulsukdo in Busan, at 11 a.m. on the 9th. He completed the 600 km trek entirely on foot alone.

During this trek, he did not receive any assistance from others. The only aid was a map app downloaded from acquaintances. Moreover, Park has a disability resulting from an accident in his childhood where more than half of his right big toe was amputated.

Park Yong-ho, a prosecutor at Busan High Prosecutors' Office, who completed the national cross-country journey praying for "peaceful reunification" and "hosting the 2030 Busan Expo," is taking a commemorative photo with acquaintances who came to welcome him.
[Image provided by So-eun Joo]

On the day of his arrival, Park could not hide his joy as he was presented with congratulatory bouquets by over 50 alumni, seniors, and classmates from Miryang High School who had come to welcome him.

Regarding his motivation for undertaking the 600 km cross-country trek, he briefly explained, "It was a goal I absolutely wanted to challenge in my life. At the time, I took advantage of the period when my application for honorary retirement was approved to take on this challenge."

He added, "I thought a trek without any meaningful purpose would be pointless, so I set a grand intention to pray for our nation's heartfelt wishes of 'peaceful reunification' and the '2030 Busan Expo bid,' and boldly put it into action."

Park also shared his reflections during the trek. "I had always been told to let go of greed, but I honestly didn't know how. At the start of the trek, I packed many things into my backpack. After a day or two, I realized it was a heavy burden and started discarding items one by one, which brought me the happiness of lightness."

He continued, "The moment I realized that 'carrying greed prevents one from feeling or finding happiness,' I felt a thrilling and exhilarating sensation throughout my body. It was pure joy that I had never experienced in my 57 years of life."

He further said, "Successful people always have someone’s help. Walking the 12 days looking only at the road, if it weren’t for the map app (navigation) provided by an acquaintance, I would have been a lost wanderer. Like a gem buried in the dirt, it must be mined, polished, and polished to shine and reveal its value. I felt the same applies to social life."

Park Yong-ho, a prosecutor at the Busan High Prosecutors' Office, who completed the national cross-country journey praying for "peaceful reunification" and "hosting the 2030 Busan Expo," is taking a commemorative photo with acquaintances who came to welcome him.
[Image provided by Sooeun Joo]

He particularly emphasized that this cross-country trek was not an event for entering politics.

Park said, "Please do not associate next year’s general election candidacy with this cross-country trek. I hope you see it as a pure 'mind control' to reflect and repent on my 30 years as a prosecutor."

He added, "It is true that people around me strongly recommend entering politics, but since I am still an active prosecutor, I cannot comment. However, if given the opportunity, I am prepared to approach it with the same spirit as the 600 km cross-country trek, for the happiness of our people."

Park is from Miryang, Gyeongnam. This area is the constituency of Jo Hae-jin, a member of the People Power Party (Miryang, Uiryeong, Haman, Changnyeong). Jo’s standing has weakened since controversies arose over nominations in the last local elections. Because of this, rumors about Park’s entry into politics have been steadily circulating in the region.

Meanwhile, he is known as a tough prosecutor within the prosecution, especially during his time as head of the special investigations division at Changwon District Prosecutors' Office. He earned a notorious nickname as a fearsome prosecutor among organized crime groups, pseudo-journalists, and corrupt public officials in the Gyeongnam region.

When Park was transferred to the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office, it is still said that the organized crime world exclaimed, "Now we are saved."

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