Politics · South Korea · 11 hrs ago
South Korean opposition leader visits Park Chung-hee’s birthplace
People Power Party leader Jang Dong-hyeok visited former president Park Chung-hee’s birthplace in Gumi, South Korea, on October 30.
The visit came amid debate over a film that has prompted accusations of distorting history.
Jang said Park’s role in South Korea’s modernization could not be erased and called for historical claims to be checked rather than distorted.
His visit was meant to express public concern and anger, he said.
Jang also helped harvest rice and planned to meet local farmers to hear their concerns.
He criticized a government plan to survey farmland across the country, saying it ignored rural conditions and should be redesigned after farmers are consulted.
South Korean opposition leader Jang Dong-hyeok visited former President Park Chung-hee’s birthplace in Gumi on October 30.
Jang called Park a “father of modernization” and said the history of Park’s modernization of the country would not be shaken.
He said the visit was intended to express public concern and anger over what he described as historical distortion.
The visit followed controversy over the film “The Assassins,” which Jang criticized.
Jang later joined a rice-harvesting volunteer activity and planned to meet with farmers.
- Who
- Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the People Power Party, South Korea’s opposition party.
- What
- He visited Park Chung-hee’s birthplace, paid his respects and criticized what he called historical distortion.
- When
- October 30, 2026.
- Where
- Park Chung-hee’s birthplace in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea.
- Why
- Jang said he wanted to express concern and anger over recent historical distortion.
Jang Dong-hyeok
Heo Jin-ho, director of “The Assassins
Historical accuracy
Jang Dong-hyeok
Jang said historical truth should be subject to verification, but that this did not justify careless distortion.
Heo Jin-ho, director of “The Assassins
Heo said he was angry that the People Power Party judged the film without fact-checking it.
Jang visited Park Chung-hee’s birthplace in Gumi and paid his respects at the memorial hall.
Jang told reporters that the visit was intended to express concern and anger over what he called historical distortion.
Jang and other party members went to Mu-eul-myeon for a rice-harvesting volunteer activity, followed by a planned meeting with farmers.
- Visitor
- Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the People Power Party
- Site
- Park Chung-hee’s birthplace, Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province
- Visit date
- October 30, 2026
- Guestbook inscription
- Father of modernization Park Chung-hee” (Donga Ilbo)
- Film at the center of controversy
- The Assassins
What people are saying
I hope today's visit becomes an occasion to express, on behalf of the people, concern and anger over the recent issue of historical distortion.
Historical truth should be subject to verification. But being subject to verification and being allowed to distort it recklessly are entirely different things.
I am so angry that they judge the film without even fact-checking it.