Man sets ex-President’s birthplace on fire
Police detained an arson suspect, Thursday, whom they believe set fire to the birthplace of former President Park Chung-hee, the father of President Park Geun-hye, in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province.
Police said the man, surnamed Baek, 48, did so out of anger against the incumbent for her involvement in the influence-peddling scandal surrounding her confidant Choi Soon-sil.
“In my opinion, Park should either resign or commit suicide. As she is choosing neither, I set the fire,” Baek told police.
According to a guest book secured by police minutes after the fire broke out, Baek wrote “Kill yourself, Park Geun-hye. Stop disgracing your father.”
According to firefighters, the fire broke out around 3:15 p.m., and was extinguished within 10 minutes, with no casualties reported.
A one-story memorial building where portraits of Park Chung-hee and former first lady Yuk Young-soo were kept was com- pletely gutted inside.
Police said Baek also set fire to the birthplace of former President Roh Tae-woo in Daegu, in December 2013.He used paint thinners to start the fires on both occasions, police added. The fire in 2013 was put out without major damage and Baek was later sentenced to 18 months in prison suspended for three years.
At the time, Baek wrote a two-page letter in which he criticized Roh for allegedly creating a slush fund while in office and receiving bribes from major conglomerates.
Police will determine later whether to seek an arrest warrant for Baek.
Park Chung-hee ruled the country for 18 years after seizing power in a military coup in 1961. He was assassinated in 1979 by his intelligence chief.
Detractors revile him for suppressing democracy and human rights but supporters credit him with bringing about South Korea’s rapid economic growth.
The incident comes as the current President Park is facing the greatest crisis of her political career from the influence-peddling scandal as the opposition parties are pushing for her impeachment.