A Seoul district is renewing its push to construct a public park to commemorate a former dictator, a project that was suspended in 2013 due to a budget spat and criticisms of political motivation.

The Jung-gu Office in the center of the capital said it would establish the memorial park around the house of late ex-president Park Chung-hee, father of incumbent president Park Geun-hye.

The one-story 11,075-square-meter building with four basement floors will consist of a public underground parking lot, an exhibition hall and a park on the ground floor. The new plan aims at expanding parking spaces while providing green spaces for the community residents, it added. 
 

The park scheme, initially pushed by the district three years ago, was accused of being an attempt by Jung-gu Mayor Choi Chang-sik to show his “loyalty” to the president. 

The district had also sought to share the financial burden of about 30 billion won ($24.8 million) with the central government and the city government.

The project was suspended as the Seoul Metropolitan Government refused to shoulder the financial burden, citing that the district did not negotiate the project in advance. Cheong Wa Dae had then also stated that it was not desirable to build a park with taxpayers’ money amid the sluggish economy. 

This time, Jung-gu Office said it would fully shoulder the construction expenses, with 10 billion won already allocated to the project for this year. The park will open in 2018, it added.

District councilors of the main opposition expressed objection to the project, claiming that the park plan is a budget waste.

“Although (I) agree with expanding parking spaces in the district, tearing down old buildings and establishing a park with tens of billions of won without any financial support from the central and city government is a waste of the budget,” said city councilor Byun Chang-yoon of the main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea.

The district may also face hurdles from business owners over the compensation issue. The office said negotiations with business owners are underway.

By Lee Hyun-jeong (rene@heraldcorp.com)