President Park Geun-hye voiced opposition Monday to a local government’s project to establish a park around a former home of her family in Seoul in tribute to her father and late former President Park Chung-hee.

Criticism has arisen over the project by Seoul’s Jung-gu district office to build a memorial park around the former Park family house in Shindang-dong in central Seoul, where the elder Park lived for three years before he seized power in a 1961 coup. The current president also stayed there for a few years after her father was assassinated by his spy chief in 1979.

Critics have claimed the project is an attempt to beautify the former leader, one of South Korea’s most divisive figures, who is lauded by supporters as the economic savior who pulled the country out of poverty, but denounced by detractors as a dictator.

“There was a news report that the Jung-gu district office plans to establish a memorial park around the former Sindang-dong house,”

Park said during a weekly meeting with senior secretaries. “I think it is not desirable to use taxpayer money to establish a memorial park at a time when the national economy is in hardship and difficulties.”

Park said she understands the local government’s intentions to use the house as a tourist attraction, but stressed that the project should be pursued in a way that does not cost too much money.

Under the envisioned plan, the district office will buy the properties surrounding the house and create a memorial hall along with green areas to exhibit materials about the late president’s key projects and other souvenirs.

Officials said the ward office completed the feasibility study, with its final report due later this month. After a review by the municipal government, the office plans to come up with detailed plans for its design and fundraising.

In 2012, a separate memorial hall dedicated to the late leader opened in western Seoul. (Yonhap News)