DAEGU — A court has dismissed a request by Korea National Railway to remove a statue of former President Park Chung-hee installed in the plaza at Dongdaegu Station.
The ruling, handed down about one year and nine months after the statue was erected, sided with the Daegu Metropolitan Government in a legal dispute with Korea National Railway over the legality of the installation and the rights to manage and use the plaza.
The 11th Civil Division of the Daegu District Court, presided over by Chief Judge Kwon Jun-beom, ruled against the plaintiff on the 1st in the lawsuit filed by Korea National Railway against the Daegu city government seeking delivery of the structure.
"All claims by the plaintiff are dismissed," the court ruled, adding that litigation costs would be borne by the plaintiff.
The court did not provide a detailed explanation of its reasoning in the courtroom that day.
Immediately after the ruling, however, the Daegu District Court said the division dismissed the claim on the grounds that the Daegu city government was recognized as holding usage or management rights allowing it to install and operate various facilities on the Dongdaegu Station overpass around the time the statue was built.
"Korea National Railway also appears to have tolerated the Daegu city government's usage or management rights over the Dongdaegu Station overpass," the court added. "The city has used it entirely as if it were the actual owner since around the time the overpass was completed."
When the ruling was announced, conservative groups that had been holding a rally against the statue's removal in front of the Daegu District Court since around 9 a.m. cheered, chanting "President Park Chung-hee, long live a just Republic of Korea."
Korea National Railway is reported to be planning to decide on its next steps after receiving the written ruling.
The Daegu city government held an unveiling ceremony for the statue of the former president at the Dongdaegu Station plaza on Dec. 23, 2024, during the tenure of former Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, amid opposition from civic groups.
Korea National Railway subsequently demanded the statue's removal and filed the lawsuit, arguing that the installation on state-owned land without separate consultation was unlawful.
