Mullae Park (Korean: 문래공원; Hanja: 文來公園) is a park in Mullae-dong, Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul, South Korea. The park was established in 1986 and is widely used for leisure and exercise by nearby residents.[1]
| Mullae Park | |
|---|---|
 The park, viewed from the north. Sports courts are visible. In the background, the rear of the fenced-off bust of Park Chung Hee is visible. (2023) | |
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| Location | Mullae-dong, Yeongdeungpo District, Seoul, South Korea |
| Coordinates | 37°30′58″N 126°53′38″E / 37.51611°N 126.89389°E |
| Established | 1986 |
Before it was a park, it hosted several military facilities. Now, a large number of civilian amenities fill the area, including walkways, exercise equipment, playgrounds, and air purifiers.[2]
Relationship to Park Chung Hee
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The park was once host to the South Korean Army's 6th District Headquarters: the birthplace of the May 16 Coup of 1961. It was during this coup that Park Chung Hee seized power.[2][3] All that remains of the former bases is an underground bunker, the entrance to which is now behind a locked and unmarked door, near a children's playground.[4]
Bust of Park
editTo commemorate this part of history, a bust depicting Park during his military years has been in the park since 1985.[3] In 2000, after the Center for Historical Truth and Justice unveiled research on Park's blood oath of loyalty to Japan, the bust had a Japanese Rising Sun Flag tied to it, was knocked over, and dragged to the campus of Hongik University.[4] The bust's nose was damaged in the process. The statue was reinstalled, and the nose was repaired by a memorial foundation to Park in 2006.[4] In December 2016, during protests for the impeachment of Park's daughter President Park Geun-hye, Choe Hwang (최황) wrote "remove" ("철거하라") in red spray paint on the statue.[5][4] Choe wrote angrily on Facebook about Park Chung Hee's role as a pro-Japanese collaborator ("chinilpa") and military dictator. For this, he was fined one million won.[4][5]
The bust is now protected behind an iron fence. A nearby sign, prepared by the memorial foundation to Park, warns people of consequences for vandalism towards either the bust or the bunker.[4]
References
edit- ^ 기후위기 극복 도시숲, 서울 영등포 문래공원에서 만나요 [A City Forest to Overcome Climate Change; Let's Meet in Mullae Park, in the Yeongdeungpo District of Seoul]. 생명의숲. Archived from the original on 2024-01-09. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
- ^ a b 철공소 골목의 변신! 문래근린공원·문래창작촌 [The Transformation of an Ironworking Alley! Mullae Neighborhood Park, Mullae Creative Village]. mediahub.seoul.go.kr (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2024-01-09. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
- ^ a b 고（故） 박정희 대통령 흉상 [Past President Park Chung Hee Bust]. www.ydp.go.kr. Archived from the original on 2024-01-09. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
- ^ a b c d e f 손, 호철 (2021-07-23). 철거냐 존치냐, 서울 복판 박정희 흉상을 보며 [Remove or Respect, Examining the Bust of Park Chung Hee in the Heart of Seoul]. Pressian (in Korean). Archived from the original on 2024-01-09. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
- ^ a b "Bust idolizing President's father vandalized". The Korea Times. 2016-12-06. Archived from the original on 2024-01-17. Retrieved 2024-01-17.
External links
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- 박정희 전 대통령 흉상 페인트로 훼손 / YTN (Yes! Top News) on YouTube – News report on the spray paint incident. The 2000 incident is also mentioned. (in Korean)