[Editorial] President¡¯s memorial is ill-conceived

Reports have it that a memorial hall for the late President Park Chung-Hee will be established in the projected park near the World Cup Stadium in Sangam-dong, Mapo-ku, Seoul. Out of a total construction cost or 70 billion won, 50 billion won will be raised from the general public, and the remaining 20 billion won will be supported by the government.

The plan was confirmed July 19 at a meeting at Chong Wa Dae attended by Shin Hyun-Hack, chairman of the Park Chung-Hee Memorial Hall Construction Committee; Kwon Roh-Kap, vice chairman; Choi In-Kee, minister of home Affairs; Goh Kun, mayor of Seoul; and Han Kwang-Ok, chief presidential secretary.

In particular, the construction of the memorial hall in Seoul rather than in the late Park`s home in North Kyongsang Province, was to follow the wishes of his bereaved family, according to the reports.

Earlier, we pointed out in an editorial that it is not desirable to build this memorial hall even with a state subsidy in advance of other former presidents, despite the fact that historical evaluation of the former president has yet to be completed. There is no objection for those who are concerned to establish such an memorial building, but the problem is that the government is involved in the project for commemorating a specific ex-president with the taxpayers?money.

There are conflicting assessments of former President Park, with some extolling him as the architect of the miracle on the Han River and others calling him a dictator who suppressed human rights. The decision reached at the Chong Wa Dae meeting is based on the conferees` consensus on a "positive evaluation," an unfair declaration vis-?vis other ex-presidents.

Moreover, the fact that the donation of about 5,000 pyong for the construction site to set up the hall in the vicinity of the World Cup Stadium, which will be frequented by many Koreans and foreigners, represents the government`s deference to his bereaved family and the promotional organization`s political ambition to maximize the adoration of the late president.

The government insists that the memorial hall will be utilized as an educational facility to assess the merits and demerits of a political leader from an objective standpoint, not for adoring an individual. Yet in view of the hall`s characteristics, it is hardly expected that his errors and wrongs will be candidly displayed.

Some historical study circles have raised objections to the proposed government financial support to the Park memorial hall and have held a rally to protest its construction.

We are consistently opposed to the government-initiated memorial hall building, lest that our posterity learn a distorted history extolling a dictator`s career. We cannot help but raise skepticism over the incumbent government`s historical consciousness and President Kim Dae-Jung`s true character.