[Daegu] Amid controversy over pros and cons, Dongdaegu Station's 'Park Jung-hee statue' unveiling

[Anchor]
Daegu Mayor Hong Joon Pyo pushed ahead with the unveiling of the statue of former President Park Chung-hee at Dongdaegu Station.

Amid a legal dispute with the Korea Railroad Corporation over the installation of the statue, civic groups also heralded a hard-line struggle.

Reporter Kim Geun-woo reports.

[Reporter]
Dongdaegu Station Square, a 3-meter-long statue of former President Park Chung-hee, appeared.

It has been nine months since the mayor of Hong Joon Pyo pushed for the construction.

This is why we need a symbol of a modernization-oriented city.

[Hong Joon Pyo / Daegu Metropolitan City Mayor] (When evaluating historical figures) There is always merit and merit. It is the duty of the descendants not to reveal only the past, but to honor the ball if there is a ball.]

However, the Korea Railroad Corporation and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, which own the square, are reluctant.

The Korea Railroad Corporation even filed an injunction for the suspension of construction, claiming that the statue was installed without consultation.

[Park Sang-woo / Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport] There is no problem. I don't think it's appropriate. We don't agree, we didn't do it ourselves many times because we were against it, but we thought the same way as the affiliated organization, the Korea Railroad Corporation....]

Civil society's opposition is also ongoing.

In particular, he criticizes that Daegu City taxes were used to challenge Mayor Hong's presidential bid at a time when impeachment and early presidential election were discussed.

[Im Sung-jong / Executive Chairman of the Pan-Citizen Headquarters against idolizing Park Chung-hee: This symbol of Park Chung-hee is especially like a symbol of conservative and water polo forces. I think they are trying to gather conservative forces and gather strength to become presidential candidates.]

Civic groups decided to continue their opposition by holding a one-man protest nearby.

The statue was installed after many twists and turns, but the political controversy coupled with the mayor of Hong Joon Pyo's presidential bid is expected to intensify as civil society's fierce opposition and court battle are predicted.

I'm Kim Geunwoo from YTN.

VJ: Yoon Ye-on