Park’s remark over May 16 causes controversy

Rep. Park Geun-hye, strong presidential hopeful of the ruling Saenuri Party, assessed that the May 16 coup d’etat was “my father’s indispensable best choice,” in a meeting last Monday (July 16). It was a step back from her earlier estimation in 2007 that “it was a revolution for salvaging our country.”

However, her recent remarks brought about  criticism from political leaders of both ruling and opposition parties that it was not sufficient to neutralize controversy over her perception of history. Some said that she just tried to emphasize positive side of it including successful industrialization and economic development while ignoring the fact that May 16 revolution was a military coup d’etat which ran counter to democracy.

Sohn Hak-kyu of the Democratic Unified Party (DUP) who compared Park to an island commented over her remarks said that “that’s why I said she is pity and still living the Yushin ear alone.” Other DUP Presidential candidates joined the criticism.

Criticism attracting more people’s attention came from the inside of the ruling Saenuri party. Rep. Lee Jae-o criticized through his article

on his twitter: “if decendants of those who triggered Japanese annexation of Korea and the Korean War say that they were inevitable best choices at that time, I wonder how should we reply?”

Governor Kim Moon-soo of Kyeonggi Province, one of the ruling Saenuri Party Presidential candiates, also retorted that “her remarks that May 16 was indispensable choice was not compatible with the Constitution. Isn’t it a coup d’etat to overthrough a government by military force?”

Something in common among those who criticized Park’s remarks in disregard of party affiliation was that they are from the same generations who diretly experienced torture and imprisonment during the Yushin era.

news@theasian.asia