Daejeon:Seoul Veterans Minister Kwon Oh-eul is set to pay tribute to two former presidents, including the contentious figure Park Chung-hee, as part of his commitment to honor past leaders irrespective of political affiliations, the veterans ministry announced on Thursday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Kwon plans to attend a memorial ceremony later in the day at the Daejeon National Cemetery to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Choi Kyu-hah's death. Choi, who served as the 10th president from December 1979 to August 1980, took office following the assassination of Park Chung-hee and resigned under pressure from then Army General Chun Doo-hwan. Choi’s tenure is noted as the shortest for a president in post-Korean War history.
Kwon also intends to visit the Seoul National Cemetery on Monday to pay his respects to Park Chung-hee. This move is considered unusual due to the controversy surrounding Park’s leadership, often criticized by the liberal bloc. Despite potential backlash, Kwon, who serves in the liberal Lee Jae Myung government, emphasizes the importance of recognizing former presidents' contributions to the nation beyond political divisions.
Additionally, Kwon has expressed a personal desire to honor the late former President Roh Tae-woo but has refrained from doing so at present. Roh, who served as president from 1988 to 1993, was Chun's associate during the 1979 military coup. Both Roh and Chun were convicted and imprisoned for their roles in the coup and corruption but were later released under presidential pardons.