Park Chung-Hee, president of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) from 1961 to 1979, is loved here by many, despite the fact that he disbanded parliament and abolished the Korean constitution in 1972 in order to remain in office.  It was during his presidency that Korea was transformed from a struggling postwar country into the export-driven economic power it is today.

 

In addition to this shrine, where guests are invited to light a stick of incense in honor of Park and his wife, the “President Park Chung-Hee Memorial Project” houses a persimmon tree that Park planted in his youth, and somehow survived the Korean War.