Court rules against Korea Railroad Corporation, which requested the removal of Park Chung-hee statue

The court did not accept the National Railroad Corporation's request to remove the statue of former President Park Chung-hee installed in the plaza of Dongdaegu Station.

About one year and nine months after the statue was installed in December 2024, when former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo was in office, the court ruled in favor of Daegu City in a legal battle between the Korea National Railroad Corporation and Daegu City over the legality of installing the statue and the authority to manage and use the square.

On the 1st, Daegu District Court Civil Division 11 (Chief Judge Kwon Jun-beom) ruled 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, “All of the plaintiff’s claims are dismissed,” and “the plaintiff will bear the costs of the lawsuit.”

The court did not separately explain the detailed reasons for the decision in court that day.

However, immediately after the decision was announced, the Daegu District Court explained, "As a result of the hearing, the court ruled to dismiss the claim on the grounds that Daegu City's right to use or manage the viaduct around the time the statue was erected was recognized."

When the verdict was announced, conservative groups who had been protesting against the removal of the statue in front of the Daegu District Court starting around 9 a.m. on this day cheered and chanted, “Long live President Park Chung-hee, justice and the Republic of Korea.”

It is reported that the National Railroad Authority plans to decide on future response directions after receiving the ruling.

Previously, the National Railroad Authority had demanded the removal of the statue of former President Park installed in the Dongdaegu Station square by Daegu City, saying it was illegal because it was installed on state-owned land without separate consultation.

Even at trial, the Corporation argued, “Since the structure was installed illegally, it must be demolished.”

Daegu City countered that it has the authority to manage and use the Dongdaegu Station Plaza, and that it is unfair to demand that only the statue of former President Park be removed while allowing the installation of other facilities.

In addition, it was argued that the corporation's claim that ownership of the plaza would be transferred only if the statue was removed when the related project was virtually completed and only approval for completion remained, amounted to an abuse of rights.

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.

Even ahead of this sentencing, civic groups demanding the statue's removal urged the court to rule on its removal, but opinions from the local community surrounding the preservation of the statue were mixed, with those opposing the demolition submitting signatures of 30,602 citizens to the court.