Dongdaegu Station Park Chung-hee statue removal lawsuit settled... Railroad Corporation decides to appeal

(Daegu = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Seon-hyung = The Korea Railroad Corporation decided not to appeal after losing the lawsuit to remove the statue of former President Park Chung-hee installed at the Dongdaegu Station square, putting an end to the related lawsuit.

According to materials submitted by the National Railroad Corporation to Rep. Kang Dae-sik of the People's Power Party of the National Assembly's Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee on the 20th, the Corporation decided not to appeal the first trial ruling in the lawsuit filed against Daegu City for the delivery of the structure.

Today is the last day to appeal the ruling.

The National Railroad Corporation gave up its appeal, ending the lawsuit surrounding the statue's removal.

However, controversy surrounding the appropriateness of erecting the statue is expected to continue.

Immediately after the first trial verdict, the Citizens' Movement Against the Idolization of Park Chung-hee Project, comprised of the Daegu Participatory Solidarity for Participatory Democracy and the Daegu Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice, urged the National Railroad Corporation to immediately appeal.

Previously, Daegu District Court Civil Division 11 (Chief Judge Kwon Jun-beom) ruled on the 1st that the plaintiff lost in the lawsuit filed by the Korea National Railroad Corporation against Daegu City for delivery of the structure.

The court ruled that Daegu City has the right to use or manage various facilities in the plaza above the viaduct in Dongdaegu Station.

In addition, it was determined that Daegu City's use and management authority cannot be denied solely due to the political controversy surrounding the erection of the statue of former President Park, and there was no evidence that the statue posed a structural or safety risk.

The National Railroad Authority has been demanding the demolition of the statue, claiming that Daegu City installed the statue on state-owned land without separate consultation.

On the other hand, Daegu City countered that it has the authority to manage and use the square, and that it is unfair to demand that only the statue of former President Park be removed, unlike other facilities.

Daegu City held an unveiling ceremony for a statue of former President Park at the Dongdaegu Station Square amid opposition from civic groups and others on December 23, 2024, when former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo was in office.