A statue of Park Chung-hee will likely be erected in Daegu… Daegu City Council passes amendment to ordinance

The ‘Park Chung-hee statue’, which Daegu Mayor Hong Jun-pyo is strongly promoting, is expected to be erected in Daegu.

On the 26th, the Daegu City Council’s Planning and Administration Committee approved and revised the ‘Daegu City Ordinance on Former President Park Chung-hee Memorial Project’ submitted by Daegu City during the review of the agenda for the 308th extraordinary meeting. The amendment included a new provision establishing a promotion committee to promote the commemorative project, and the scope of the commemorative project was also specified.

Chairman Lim In-hwan of the Planning and Administration Committee said, “We must take sufficient time to listen to public opinion of citizens and the opinions of experts from all walks of life,” and added, “Therefore, a commemorative project promotion committee should be formed in the submitted ordinance to hear in-depth opinions from experts from all walks of life and, if necessary, hold a public hearing.” He stated the purpose of the amendment, saying, “We included a plan to ensure that it goes through a public deliberation process.” In addition, he requested the city of Daegu to “form an independent committee to listen to the opinions of experts and listen to the voices of the media and civic groups before proceeding with the commemorative project,” and added, “We strongly request that you make this a commemorative project that resonates with citizens.” did.

Although the ordinance was passed, city council members unanimously criticized the ‘push-pull’ construction of the statue. Since the decision on the project and the submission of the ordinance took place in just over a month, the minimum amount of public opinion collection was not properly carried out.

Representative Kim Dae-hyun (Western District 1) pointed out, “I agree with the purpose and direction of erecting the statue, but the method and procedure for promoting it are very wrong,” and added, “It is not right to skip the public discussion process and push it unilaterally as if it were a military operation.” .

Ryu Jong-woo (Buk-gu 1), Vice Chairman of the Planning and Administration Committee, said, “If you have an opinion against the Park Chung-hee commemorative project, you are a citizen of Daegu. It is not an ideological move. It does not fit with Daegu City’s fiscal austerity policy, and the budget is not being used where it should be.” “We can fully oppose it,” he said. “The ordinance is too weak and has not gone through public discussion.” Rep. Park Woo-geun (Nam-gu 1st) also emphasized, “(Daegu City and City Council) must cooperate.”

The ordinance that passed the standing committee is scheduled to be passed at the Daegu City Council plenary session on the 2nd of next month.

Meanwhile, on this day, civic groups in Daegu held a rally in front of the Daegu City Council calling for the rejection of the ordinance for the former President Park memorial project.

Reporter Seo Min [email protected]

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