South Korean presidential candidate, Park Geun-hye, apologized for her father’s repressive policies and human rights violations when he ruled the country until the late 1970s.
“I sincerely apologize to those who were hurt and victimized due to these incidents,” she said, referring to three specific controversial events during her father’s regime, according to Arirang television.
Park, who is running for president as candidate for the ruling Saenuri party, said the 1961 coup that got her father, Park Chung-hee, into power “inflicted damage … and delayed Korea’s political development.”
Her father was assassinated in 1979 and is credited with securing South Korea and promoting economic development, but has been criticized of controlling the state with an iron fist.
She served as her father’s first lady for five years after her mother was killed and until her father’s death.
At a late Sunday night press conference, Park was trying to clarify her stance on her father’s policies.
“In the shadows of South Korea’s rapid growth there was pain, suffering and irregularities as well as various human rights abuses committed by authorities,” she said, according to the Korea Herald.
The remarks come just weeks after software tycoon Ahn Cheol-soo announced his presidential bid, causing her poll numbers to fall.
“Defending national security from North Korea’s constant threat back then also came with the abuses of human rights of innocent people by the government authorities,” said Park.
“In politics, the ends cannot justify the means. This democratic value has proved to be true in the past and should continue to be respected in the future as well,” she said, the Korea Times reported.
Park’s opponents have accused her of not having a clear stance on her father’s authoritarian regime.
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