Poet & Columnist 

Recently, the family of Kim Jae-gyu filed for a retrial, requesting a re-judgment of the case involving the assassination of President Park Chung-hee. The court appears to be reviewing the case, but it seems this retrial is not merely the initiative of the family alone.

This is something that happened during the Moon Jae-in administration. In the memorial hall where portraits of former directors of the KCIA, the ANSP, and the NIS are displayed, the black cloth that had covered Kim Jae-gyu’s portrait was removed. The leftist Moon Jae-in resurrected the image of a man who committed a crime against the moral foundations of society.

It is well known that Moon Jae-in and other pro-North Korean leftists view President Park through the lens of North Korea. That perspective has not changed one bit even today. Consequently, it was clear that they were upholding Kim Jae-gyu as a "great figure who eradicated a dictator."

In the 5,000-year history of the Republic of Korea, I believe there are three individuals who, as eternal paragons of virtue, have elevated the life of a human being to the level of academic study.

The first is King Sejong the Great. Beyond his monumental achievement of creating Hangul, Sejong the Great also left an immense legacy in scientific advancement. Astronomy fields, such as the calendar system 'Chiljeongsan' which calculated solar and lunar eclipses, as well as the invention of sundials and water clocks, are currently being studied even at NASA. Naturally, he is a figure who requires a unique field of study called 'Sejong Studies,' unparalleled in world history as a monarch.

The second is the invincible hero, Yi Sun-sin. The Crane Wing Formation used in the Battle of Hansan is a tactic that was applied in countless naval battles thereafter. The Battle of Myeongnyang, which utilized the power of nature, is also a naval engagement that continues to amaze naval researchers. It is said that a craze for Yi Sun-sin has recently emerged in the United States as well. A hero who embraced loyalty to the very end while walking the path of a common soldier. Yi Sun-sin is undoubtedly an incomparable military strategist who should be treated within the realm of academia.

The third is President Park Chung-hee. The process of industrialization he achieved for the Republic of Korea was a path of tears and suffering. There were times when, to borrow even a small amount of money, he used the salaries of miners and nurses sent to Germany as collateral. The heart-wrenching scene of him shedding tears in front of the German Chancellor while looking at the Autobahn still brings tears to our eyes today.

After completing the Third Five-Year Economic Development Plan and laying the nation's economic foundation, including the construction of petrochemical complexes, the next thing President Park attempted was medical insurance. Korea's medical insurance system, where medical costs are ten times lower than in the United States, was a world-class system recognized by all. In a true sense, it was a design by the divine.

And after accomplishing all of this, President Park scraped together a small amount of money to build the Jesungdang at Hansan Island to commemorate Admiral Yi Sun-sin. It was the first step he took after achieving the Miracle on the Han River.

King Sejong, Admiral Yi Sun-sin, and President Park Chung-hee are the individuals who have left great footprints and deep, searing impressions on the hearts of our people that will not be forgotten for a billion years.

If there is one common thread among these three, it is that they all dedicated their entire lives solely for the sake of the people. They were individuals who overcame comfort and complacency to endlessly forge their own paths.

Nevertheless, North Korea and its followers in the South treat President Park as an enemy. The Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU) even teaches our students using the 'dictator' frame, placing that burden upon President Park.

Our hero, President Park Chung-hee, who lifted the nation from 5,000 years of poverty, has established himself as a model for political leaders around the world. His excellent insight into 'selection and concentration' was even learned by Deng Xiaoping of China. I believe there is no developing country that has not studied President Park. In particular, Africa, Central and South America, and Southeast Asia, seeking to escape poverty, hope to 'learn from Park Chung-hee.' Even Lee Kuan Yew, who led Singapore to become an economic powerhouse, regarded Park as a great figure.

President Park’s tenacity and political philosophy aimed at enriching the nation and strengthening its military are already recognized and taught as a field of study in numerous countries. This must be the glory of our Republic of Korea.

Furthermore, the Yushin (Revitalization) reform should have truly developed into a genuine revitalization. The character 'Yu' (벼리 유), along with 'Gang' (벼리 강), signifies the massive structural ropes that organize the world. Therefore, the Republic of Korea should have taken a step further from the old era toward a new spirit of the age.

Japan rose to become a world power through the Meiji Restoration. We, too, should have built a new mental world oriented toward modern civilization, away from the evils of feudalism and Neo-Confucianism that suppressed the potential of women.

Baek Ki-wan said this during his lifetime:

"President Park Chung-hee may have harassed 3,000 people like us (dissidents), but he was the person who made the 30 million people happy."

Kim Moon-soo also visited President Park’s memorial portrait and offered a bow of atonement.

However, the reality in the Republic of Korea remains entrenched in the leftist view of 'dictator Park' due to the self-righteousness of the Democratic Party. That is why such a ridiculous trial as the 'Kim Jae-gyu retrial' is proceeding.

People who heroize a man who murdered his political rival, Cha Ji-cheol, out of jealousy, and went on to assassinate his own leader, President Park. Kim Jae-gyu never called for liberal democracy nor criticized Yushin after the assassination. The only thing he said was, "Don't engage in politics with a guy like this."

Kim Jae-gyu had usually respected President Park as a national leader and was a man who had devoted his entire body and soul to assisting President Park’s nation-building projects as the KCIA Director.

It was Kim Jae-gyu who stood at the forefront of the administration to block the opposing leftists and pro-North Korean forces so that President Park could focus on economic development. As a figure who led President Park's powerful iron-fisted rule, perhaps it is those very leftists who are now condemning this strong governance as a dictatorship.

Nevertheless, the actions of the leftists who have seized power in this country, dismissing President Park as a dictator and heroizing Kim Jae-gyu, arouse anger. This, too, is a fabrication of history, and they are using Kim Jae-gyu’s bereaved family for that manipulation. It is a truly filthy and foolish act.

In response to this, I understand that the Liberal Democratic Party is holding a 'President Park Chung-hee Memorial Ceremony' at his birthplace in Gumi on August 15th, Liberation Day. It must be a righteous action against the 'Kim Jae-gyu retrial.' Even if the world is shrouded in darkness, I believe that truly righteous people are still alive.

I sincerely hope that a movement to study and learn from the spirit and achievements of Park Chung-hee will arise. I hope that departments dealing with the achievements and spirit of President Park from an academic perspective will be established in elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as universities.

I am aware that there are 1-credit courses in universities that teach the tragedy of the Jeju 4.3 incident, which was caused by communist ideology, from a leftist perspective. Therefore, it is unacceptable that 'Park Chung-hee Studies' is not taught in schools.

It is my conviction that a Park Chung-hee Memorial Hall should stand in our universities—where the greatest intellects grow—instead of a Xi Jinping memorial. This is not a matter of fairness, but a matter of world political science for those who dream of freedom, democracy, equality, and prosperity, and who wish to advance toward a developed society.

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※ Columns by external contributors may not reflect the editorial direction of this publication.