Letter from Former President Park Chung-hee Disclosed: "If Only I Had Been Hit and Mother Had Lived"

Representative Yoo Young-ha of the People Power Party has released a handwritten letter penned by the late former President Park Chung-hee two days after the passing of First Lady Yuk Young-soo, while criticizing the film "The Assassin(s)," which is at the center of a recent controversy over historical distortion.

At a press conference held this morning (October 2) at the National Assembly's Press Center, Rep. Yoo said, "I believe this film defamed the late President Park Chung-hee by intentionally blurring the boundary between fact and fiction, and inflicted indelible insult and deep emotional wounds on the surviving family members."

He then released the handwritten letter that former President Park Chung-hee wrote to former President Park Geun-hye on August 17, 1974.


Rep. Yoo elaborated, "It was written and sent by the late President Park Chung-hee expressing his feelings at the time to former President Park Geun-hye, who was returning from France upon hearing the tragic news."

The letter contains passages reading: "Mother took the assassin's bullet meant for your father and departed," "I think over and over how wonderful it would have been if only I had been hit and Mother had lived," and "My mind goes completely dark when I think about welcoming you at the entrance all alone without your mother."

Rep. Yoo also urged Director Hur Jin-ho and the production team to show a responsible attitude, including halting screenings of the film "The Assassin(s)."

When asked by reporters after the press conference whether legal action was being considered, Rep. Yoo answered, "We are exploring every legally possible avenue."

(Photo: Yonhap News)

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.