"She Took the Bullet Meant for Me"… Park Chung-hee's Letter Revealed After Yuk Young-soo's Death

Youngha Yoo of People Power Party Releases Letter at Press Conference

"Public Apology Demanded for Defaming Former President Park"

Amid criticism from some conservatives alleging historical distortion in the film Assassin(s), which deals with the assassination of the late First Lady Yuk Young-soo, Youngha Yoo, a member of the People Power Party, has disclosed a handwritten letter that former President Park Chung-hee wrote to his daughter, former President Park Geun-hye, at the time of the incident.

According to Yonhap News Agency on October 2, Assemblyman Yoo held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Center, where he released a copy of the handwritten letter from the late former President Park. In the letter, Park wrote to his daughter, "Your mother took the bullet that was meant for me. I keep thinking over and over how much better it would have been if I had died and your mother had survived," expressing his deep sorrow.

Yu Youngha, a member of the People Power Party, holds a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Hall on the 2nd, expressing his position regarding the movie 'Assassin(s).' Photo by Yonhap News Agency

He began the letter with, "Geun-hye, what is happening to us?" and went on, "Even though it's impossible to suppress the overwhelming grief, as if the sky is collapsing and the ground is falling away, now we must all brace ourselves and find a way to piece our family back together without your mother."

He continued, "Your mother took my place and was struck instead of me, entrusting me with all responsibility for you and for this country. At first, I felt as if the sky itself was collapsing and I truly thought I could not bear it, but I resolved that I, as your father, must be the first to muster courage. From now on, I have decided to endure everything, so you too must be strong and endure as much as you can," he urged.

A handwritten letter sent by former President Park Chunghee to his daughter. Photo by Yonhap News

At the time, Park Geun-hye, who was 22 years old, was returning from France. Assemblyman Yoo explained, "Former President Park Geun-hye saw the news of her mother's assassination in a French newspaper. Since there were no direct flights at the time, she was traveling back to Korea via Tokyo, and she reportedly cried all her tears until she arrived at Tokyo airport."

Assemblyman Yoo directed his criticism at the production team of Assassin(s), demanding, "You must apologize for damaging the honor of President Park Chung-hee by distorting history, and you owe a public apology to the bereaved family and the people who have been hurt. You must also take responsible actions such as suspending the screening of the film."

He added, "This letter will serve as a cudgel to correct the historical distortions of the left, who want to spread their biased conspiracy theories like a plague throughout society."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.