Oh Se-hoon says he misses Park Chung-hee 'more than ever' at 47th memorial

"President Park Chung-hee, this year I miss you more than ever — and especially the warmth of First Lady Yuk Young-soo alongside you."

Those were the words Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon offered Monday at Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak-gu, where a ceremony marked the 47th anniversary of Park's death. When Oh arrived at the venue around 10:50 a.m., a crowd surged toward him with congratulations. Park Geun-ryeong, the former president's second daughter and former chairwoman of the Yuk Young Foundation, shook Oh's hand and said, "Congratulations on your acquittal." Before entering the ceremony, Oh signed the guest book with the words: "I will carry on the spirit of Park Chung-hee." An appeals court had acquitted Oh on Thursday, overturning his first-instance conviction on charges of having polling expenses paid on his behalf.

In his remarks, Oh said South Korea's standing in the world had changed beyond comparison with half a century ago, and that Seoul had grown into a top-tier global city drawing talent, companies, international students and tourists from around the world. "At a time when escaping poverty was the nation's most urgent task, President Park Chung-hee pointed to industrialization as the country's future," Oh said. "He opened the path to exports, built foundational industries, and expanded infrastructure such as roads and ports — laying the groundwork for South Korea to stand on its own feet." Oh added that Park had invested in science and technology talent, built research institutions and laid the foundations for research and development, "planting the roots of today's digital and AI powerhouse. And above all else, his greatest achievement was instilling in every citizen the confidence that we can do it."

Oh said he wished to express deep respect and gratitude to all citizens who had built South Korea's industrialization alongside Park. "If industrialization changed the foundation of a prosperous nation, now we must open an era of prosperous citizens," he said. He called for the fruits of growth to translate into quality of life for each individual — through good jobs, stable housing, an environment where parents can raise children without worry, and a healthy and comfortable old age. "President Park, this year I miss you more than ever — and especially the warmth of First Lady Yuk Young-soo by your side," he said, adding that he would fulfill his duties so that as South Korea grows stronger, the quality of life for its people improves as well.

The ceremony was also attended by bereaved family members including Park Geun-ryeong, former chairwoman of the Yuk Young Foundation, along with other relatives, People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok, floor leader Jeong Jeom-sik, Secretary-General Jeong Hee-yong, Policy Committee Chair Im Yi-ja, and other PPP leadership, as well as PPP lawmakers Na Kyung-won and Lee Jin-suk, and Minister of Patriots and Veterans Kwon O-eul.

In her eulogy, Na quoted Park as having said, "I did not work to win the popularity of my time; I worked with an eye toward how historians of future generations would record it." She said the words carried particular weight "at a time when politics focused only on the next election is shaking the country." Turning to the controversy surrounding the film "The Assassin(s)," Na said: "Even a president who stood like steel before the nation was, on the night he lost his wife, simply a husband. And yet North Korea has spent half a century denying and distorting its responsibility for that tragedy, and recently there have been attempts within our own society to contaminate it with conspiracy theories."

"Why do they try so hard to tear down the president? Because they are afraid. Because they do not want to acknowledge the truth," Na said. "We will complete the strong and prosperous South Korea that the president dreamed of, together with the people."

Lawmaker Lee Jin-suk said the foundations of the nation that Park built were being shaken. "It takes only one irresponsible exercise of power to tear down great achievements," she said. "We will hold accountable any power that undermines the rule of law and liberal democracy."

Minister Kwon said in his eulogy that President Lee Jae Myung had instructed the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans to pay special attention to the anniversaries of former presidents and first ladies. "I believe the time has come when memorial ceremonies for former presidents and first ladies should be occasions where all citizens come together as one," he said.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Park Geun-ryeong addressed the controversy over "The Assassin(s)." "We cannot let our father die a second time as a villain," she said. "Even I nearly fell for it watching left-leaning broadcasts. People must not believe a film like that, made by focusing on things that have no meaning."