SEOUL, - President Yoon Suk Yeol attended a memorial ceremony on Thursday to commemorate the late President Park Chung-hee on Thursday, marking the first time a sitting president has attended such an event.
"In the current global multifaceted crisis, we must rekindle the spirit and achievements of former President Park Chung-hee and use them as a stepping stone to lead the Republic of Korea forward," Yoon said in his address at the ceremony at Seoul National Cemetery in southern Seoul, referring to South Korea by its formal name.
It marked the first instance of a sitting president's participation since the annual event was first held in 1980.
After seizing power in a military coup in 1961, Park ruled South Korea for 18 years until he was shot dead by his intelligence chief in 1979.
Park's legacy remains a subject of controversy, with some accusing him of stifling democracy with his authoritarian rule, while others praise him for laying the foundation for the country's rapid economic development.
South Korea has since become an economic powerhouse in Asia from the ashes of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended in a cease-fire, not a peace treaty.
Yoon, who has expressed admiration for the late President Park, attended the event immediately upon his return from an overseas trip to the Middle East.
"The attendance at the commemoration ceremony underscores the commitment to upholding the essence of politics, as embodied by former President Park Chung-hee," said a presidential official, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
High-profile participants at the annual event included the late president's eldest daughter, ousted former President Park Geun-hye, who attended for the first time in 11 years.
Yoon and the younger Park met for the first time in approximately 17 months, following Yoon's inauguration ceremony last May. They have met three times.
Several prominent political figures from the conservative bloc were also present, including Rep. Kim Gi-hyeon, the leader of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), and Ihn Yohan, the chief of the PPP's new innovation committee.
Source: Yonhap News Agency