“아버지께서 떠나신 지 47년이 흘렀지만 그리움은 오히려 더 깊어지는 것 같다,” 박근혜 전 대통령이 on November 14 told Kyongbuk.co.kr.
The former president attended the 109th birthday cultural event for the late President Park Chung-hee at the Gumi Complex Sports Center, where she addressed a crowd of roughly 2,000 attendees alongside local officials including Gumi Mayor Kim Jang-ho.
Marking the anniversary under the theme “South Korea, That New World Journey!”, the morning began with a memorial ritual at the birthplace at 9 a.m. before shifting to the main ceremony. The annual gathering drew support from patriotic organizations and citizens nationwide who traveled to Gumi for the commemoration, with the main ceremony getting underway at 10:30 a.m. at the Gumi Complex Sports Center.
Reflecting on the historical trajectory of the nation, the former president recalled the celebratory song “Let’s Live Well,” noting how an anthem born out of desperate poverty evolved into an expression of national confidence and economic achievement.
Shifting to contemporary economic and security realities, she emphasized the fundamental duties of governance and social cohesion.
“오늘날의 풍요는 우리 아버지, 어머니의 땀과 눈물로 만들어낸 것,” Park told Kyongbuk.co.kr.
“우리 국민은 어떠한 어려움도 이겨낼 수 있는 강인한 유전자를 가지고 있다,” Park told Kyongbuk.co.kr.
Mayor Kim Jang-ho also delivered a welcoming address outlining regional development goals centered on industrial heritage and advanced technology sectors.
A parallel commemorative ceremony took place on the same day at the Cheongungak pavilion in Mungyeong, drawing approximately 200 participants to honor the historical ties of the former president’s early career as a teacher at Mungyeong Public Ordinary School.
