Park Geun-hye releases letter written by her late father amid film controversy

Rep. Yoo Young-ha of the People Power Party on Friday released a handwritten letter from former President Park Chung-hee in Seoul amid criticism of the film The Assassin(s). The letter, kept by Park Geun-hye, was written on Aug. 17, 1974, two days after first lady Yuk Young-soo died. Yoo called for the film to be pulled, said its producers should apologize, and said he was considering legal action.

The letter was written on Aug. 17, 1974, two days after Yuk Young-soo died.

Park Geun-hye received the letter from her younger sister, Park Geun-ryeong, while she was returning to Korea from France.

Park Chung-hee wrote that the bullet meant for him struck Yuk Young-soo instead, and that she left him with responsibility for their children and the country.

Yoo Young-ha said he was considering legal action against the film’s producers.

Yoo urged the public to distinguish historical facts based on actual records from parts claimed to be fictional and asked for an apology for distorting history and defaming Park Chung-hee.

Published Oct 3, 2026 1:58 pm KST

People Power Party Rep. Yoo Young-ha speaks at a press conference at the National Assembly's Communication Hall, Friday, regarding the film “The Assassin(s).” Yoo is pointing to a copy of a handwritten letter former President Park Chung-hee wrote to his daughter, former President Park Geun-hye, after the assassination of first lady Yuk Young-soo. Yonhap

As conservatives criticize the film “The Assassin(s),” which deals with the fatal shooting of first lady Yuk Young-soo, as a distortion of history, Rep. Yoo Young-ha of the People Power Party on Friday released a handwritten letter that former President Park Chung-hee sent to his daughter, former President Park Geun-hye.

Yoo held a press conference at the National Assembly and released a copy of the letter, which had been kept by Park Geun-hye. The letter was written on Aug. 17, 1974, two days after Yuk's death. At the time, Park Geun-hye was studying in France. After learning of her mother's death, she returned to Korea via Tokyo, and received the letter from her younger sister, Park Geun-ryeong, while en route.

In the letter, Park Chung-hee wrote to his daughter: “The bullet that should have struck your father instead struck your mother and took her away. I think again and again how wonderful it would have been if I had been shot and your mother had survived.”

A close up of a copy of a handwritten letter former President Park Chung-hee wrote to his daughter, former President Park Geun-hye / Yonhap

He continued, “Your mother took the bullet meant for me and left me with all the responsibility for you children and for this country,” adding, “At first, I felt as though the sky had collapsed, and I could hardly compose myself. But I thought that I had to be the first to find courage, so I have decided from now on to endure and bear everything. You, too, must be strong and endure as much as you can.”

He also wrote, “Now you must take your mother's place. I may not be able to do even a fraction of what your mother did, but I will make whatever sacrifice is necessary to become a good father.”

Yoo called for the film to be pulled from theaters and for its producers to apologize, saying he was also considering legal action.

“Do not hide behind the words ‘freedom of creation and expression.’ Clearly distinguish between the historical facts based on actual records and the parts you claim to have created, and explain them to the public,” Yoo said. “Apologize for distorting history and defaming the late President Park Chung-hee, and publicly apologize to the bereaved family and the people who have been hurt.”

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.

国民力量党议员柳英河周五公布了前总统朴正熙在首尔亲笔写的一封信，以回应电影《刺客》引发的批评。这封信由朴槿惠保存，写于1974年8月17日，即第一夫人柳英秀去世两天后。柳英河呼吁撤下这部电影，并表示制片方应该道歉，他还表示正在考虑采取法律行动。

这封信写于 1974 年 8 月 17 日，也就是陆英洙去世两天后。

朴根惠从法国返回韩国的途中收到了妹妹朴根玲的来信。

朴正熙写道，原本射向他的子弹却击中了柳英洙，她把照顾孩子和国家的责任留给了他。

刘英夏表示，他正在考虑对该电影的制片方采取法律行动。

刘先生敦促公众区分基于实际记录的历史事实和被声称为虚构的部分，并要求为歪曲历史和诽谤朴正熙道歉。

发布于2026年10月3日下午1:58（韩国标准时间）

国民力量党议员柳英夏周五在国会通讯厅举行记者会，就电影《刺客》发表讲话。柳英夏指着一份前总统朴正熙在第一夫人柳英秀遇刺后写给女儿、前总统朴槿惠的亲笔信副本。（韩联社）

保守派人士批评电影《刺客》（讲述第一夫人柳英秀被枪杀事件）歪曲历史，国民力量党议员柳英河于周五公布了前总统朴正熙写给女儿、前总统朴槿惠的一封亲笔信。

刘在国会举行记者会，公布了朴槿惠保存的这封信的副本。这封信写于1974年8月17日，即柳玉玲去世两天后。当时，朴槿惠正在法国留学。得知母亲去世的消息后，她经东京返回韩国，途中收到了妹妹朴根玲寄来的这封信。

在信中，朴正熙写给女儿：“本该击中你父亲的子弹却击中了你的母亲，夺走了她的生命。我一遍又一遍地想，如果我中枪而你的母亲活了下来，那该有多好。”

韩联社报道：前总统朴正熙写给女儿、前总统朴槿惠的一封手写信件的复印件特写。

他继续说道：“你们的母亲替我挡了子弹，把照顾你们和这个国家的全部责任都留给了我。”他补充道：“起初，我感觉天塌下来了，几乎无法自拔。但我认为我必须第一个鼓起勇气，所以我决定从现在开始忍受一切。你们也必须坚强，尽可能地忍耐。”

他还写道：“现在你必须接替你母亲的位置。我或许无法做到你母亲所做的一切的十分之一，但我会做出一切必要的牺牲，成为一名好父亲。”

刘德华要求影院下架这部电影，并要求制片方道歉，同时表示他也在考虑采取法律行动。

“不要躲在‘创作和表达自由’的幌子下。请明确区分基于真实记录的历史事实和你声称自己创作的部分，并向公众解释清楚。”柳说，“请为歪曲历史和诽谤已故总统朴正熙的行为道歉，并公开向其家属和所有受到伤害的人道歉。”

本文来自《韩国日报》（《韩国时报》的姊妹报），由人工智能生成系统翻译，并由《韩国时报》编辑。