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Event: Death of Park Chung-hee (2006)
Qilai! Qilai!
A History of Modern China and the World
Event: The Man in the Blue House
A History of Modern China and the World
Event: The Man in the Blue House
"Seoul Is In Shock"
Published by Jiang An, Shanghai News Source (shanghainews.cn)
October 26, 2006
The streets of Seoul are deathly quiet. As I walk, there is nothing but black flags and decorations on all the windows. The nation seems transfixed, and for good reason. Last night, President Park Chung-hee died at the age of 99, ending a reign that has gone almost the entire lifespan of independent Korea. While Park was the first President of the People's Republic of Korea, he was not the first leader of an independent Korea. In 1948, the Soviet Union created the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, north of the 38th parallel. Initially, the regime was under the control of Kim Il-sung, a communist revolutionary whom, according to state records, was executed for treason in 1950. He was later replaced by the last North Korean leader, Pak Chang-ok, whom served from 1950 to 1980 as Chairman of the Korean Workers Party Congress. In the South, Park was preceded by the statesman Syngman Rhee, whom was overthrown in 1958 by Park in an attempt to prevent World War III in Asia. As both a military and civilian leader, Park has ruled over the People's Republic of Korea for nearly fifty years.
With his death, the world seems so still now for Korea. People are wondering whom will inherit the mantle of the Presidency from the man whom united two brother republics. Early this morning, Prime Minister Kim Jong-il, of the National Democratic Party, gave a speech indicating that Korea would be holding elections to replace President Park at the earliest possible convenience. It is expected that Prime Minister Kim will attempt to run for the highest office, but there are other possible competitors--the unrelated Kim Dae-jung, of the Liberal Democratic Party, is angling for the Blue House, while there are also rumors that President Park's daughter, Park Geun-hye, may attempt a run as well.
For a nation that has lost their equivalent to the Great Revolutionary (Comrade Deng Xiaoping) or the Father of their Country (General George Washington), it is not a surprise that the nation has been shocked still. Early this morning, former Chairman Zhao Ziyang gave a press statement, indicating his sadness at the loss of such a great man, and highlighting the respect he had for Park's struggle for Korean unity and peace throughout his tenure. Comrade Deng Xiaoping's family has given a statement as well, highlighting that their father 'deeply respected and admired the Korean leader, and wished the peoples of Korea the best, and we feel the same way today.'
The funeral procession for President Park will be broadcast live in TV China next Wednesday at 08:00. His daughter, Prime Minister Kim, Chairman Yu, President Trump, and General Secretary Ryzhkov are expected to give speeches about the man they had men so many times in dealing with Asian politics. The Japanese Prime Minister has also given a statement, commemorating the life of President Park, and calling him 'the best friend Asia could ask for', and once again reiterating Japan's long-standing efforts to repairing the damaged relationship between them and their former colony.
Published by Jiang An, Shanghai News Source (shanghainews.cn)
October 26, 2006
The streets of Seoul are deathly quiet. As I walk, there is nothing but black flags and decorations on all the windows. The nation seems transfixed, and for good reason. Last night, President Park Chung-hee died at the age of 99, ending a reign that has gone almost the entire lifespan of independent Korea. While Park was the first President of the People's Republic of Korea, he was not the first leader of an independent Korea. In 1948, the Soviet Union created the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, north of the 38th parallel. Initially, the regime was under the control of Kim Il-sung, a communist revolutionary whom, according to state records, was executed for treason in 1950. He was later replaced by the last North Korean leader, Pak Chang-ok, whom served from 1950 to 1980 as Chairman of the Korean Workers Party Congress. In the South, Park was preceded by the statesman Syngman Rhee, whom was overthrown in 1958 by Park in an attempt to prevent World War III in Asia. As both a military and civilian leader, Park has ruled over the People's Republic of Korea for nearly fifty years.
With his death, the world seems so still now for Korea. People are wondering whom will inherit the mantle of the Presidency from the man whom united two brother republics. Early this morning, Prime Minister Kim Jong-il, of the National Democratic Party, gave a speech indicating that Korea would be holding elections to replace President Park at the earliest possible convenience. It is expected that Prime Minister Kim will attempt to run for the highest office, but there are other possible competitors--the unrelated Kim Dae-jung, of the Liberal Democratic Party, is angling for the Blue House, while there are also rumors that President Park's daughter, Park Geun-hye, may attempt a run as well.
For a nation that has lost their equivalent to the Great Revolutionary (Comrade Deng Xiaoping) or the Father of their Country (General George Washington), it is not a surprise that the nation has been shocked still. Early this morning, former Chairman Zhao Ziyang gave a press statement, indicating his sadness at the loss of such a great man, and highlighting the respect he had for Park's struggle for Korean unity and peace throughout his tenure. Comrade Deng Xiaoping's family has given a statement as well, highlighting that their father 'deeply respected and admired the Korean leader, and wished the peoples of Korea the best, and we feel the same way today.'
The funeral procession for President Park will be broadcast live in TV China next Wednesday at 08:00. His daughter, Prime Minister Kim, Chairman Yu, President Trump, and General Secretary Ryzhkov are expected to give speeches about the man they had men so many times in dealing with Asian politics. The Japanese Prime Minister has also given a statement, commemorating the life of President Park, and calling him 'the best friend Asia could ask for', and once again reiterating Japan's long-standing efforts to repairing the damaged relationship between them and their former colony.
- Asami
- Word Count: 550