Politics · South Korea · 2 hrs ago
Gimhae plans memorial park for officer killed resisting 1979 coup
Gimhae plans a memorial park for Lt.
Col.
Kim O-rang, who was killed resisting troops during South Korea’s December 1979 military coup.
Kim, born in Gimhae, died while trying to protect the commander of South Korea’s special forces from troops who stormed their headquarters.
The current memorial is cramped and difficult to reach, making it hard to hold remembrance events there.
The city has selected a small park in the Sam-eo district as the new site, where more people can visit and gatherings can be held.
The site must be redesignated as a history park before a memorial can be built there under the relevant rules.
Gimhae aims to complete the park by the end of next year, after design work and planning procedures.
Gimhae plans to create a memorial park for Lt. Col. Kim O-rang, who was killed resisting the 1979 military coup.
The city selected a small park in the Sam-eo district, near Mega Mart, as the site.
The existing memorial is in a narrow location that residents say is difficult to access and too small for ceremonies.
The city plans to change the site’s designation to a history park because current rules do not allow memorial facilities there.
It aims to complete the project by the end of next year, after design and planning procedures.
- Who
- Gimhae city plans the park to commemorate Lt. Col. Kim O-rang.
- What
- The city plans to create a memorial park for Kim, who died resisting coup forces.
- When
- The city announced the plan on October 18, 2026. It aims to complete the park by the end of next year.
- Where
- A small park in the Sam-eo district in Gimhae, near Mega Mart.
- Why
- The existing memorial site is cramped and difficult for citizens to access, and it is not suitable for memorial events.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Kim O-rang was killed while resisting troops who attacked the Special Warfare Command.
Residents of Hwalcheon-dong raised funds to establish a memorial to Kim.
Gimhae announced plans to create a memorial park at a site in the Sam-eo district.
The city plans to carry out detailed design and planning procedures, with completion targeted by year-end.
- Site
- Small park 3 in the Sam-eo district, near Mega Mart
- Existing memorial
- Established in June 2014 by residents of Hwalcheon-dong
- Target completion
- End of 2027
- Kim's rank
- Lieutenant colonel
- Death
- December 13, 1979
1 source
What people are saying
Kim was a significant local figure who died resisting the rebel forces with a soldier’s sense of duty.