100 days on, people still line up to pay tribute to POSCO founder

On Sunday afternoon, two women braved the piercing cold and visited a white tent at Seoul National Cemetery.

They paid tribute to the late Park Tae-joon, the founder of POSCO who brought the nation’s manufacturing industry to a level unprecedented at the time. They stood in front his tombstone for a while and offered incense.

“I don’t know about him well. But I know he is a rare person, who really stood out for the country,” said Kim Su-jeong, a resident from nearby Bangbae-dong. Kim and her mother, who declined to be named, visit the cemetery often to see the “historical figure.”

“I wanted to teach my daughter about what our generation and above have gone through to put the Korean economy on this global scale,” the mother said. “Talking about Park here was a good opportunity.”

Nearly 100 days have passed since Park died on Dec. 13, but his graveyard is still visited by scores of people honoring his passion and dedication to developing the nation’s steel industry from scratch. From high-profile figures such as POSCO chairman Chung Joon-yang, to ordinary citizens dropping by, the tent almost always has people inside, reminiscing about the heyday of Park. 

Inside the guestbook were names of ordinary people and their families visiting from across the country: From Pohang, where Park founded the steel company, to a remote village in South Jeolla Province, people left messages for Park.

“I will always remember you and your lesson,” a mourner wrote.

“Usually we have about 50-60 people coming here every day, offering flowers and condolences. Many of them bring their families to talk about the hardships in Korean history and Park’s painstaking devotion to establishing POSCO in the small hamlet of Pohang,” said Jeon, who requested that his first name not be disclosed. He has sojourned near Park’s tombstone from day one.

Seoul National Cemetery has started exhibiting 10 of Park’s belongings at the Meritorious Citizens Hall.

“People still come here. It seems that Park has an indelible impact on the older generation,” a cemetery worker said.

The online world is still abuzz with Park, too. Blogs are full of anecdotes about Park, depicting his determination to build Korea into a steel powerhouse, which later became the basis of all Korean industries.

“While the workers were building the plants, Park once told them that all they would do is ‘turn right and drown in the gulf of Yeongil’ should they fail to construct the impeccable plant. He was serious. He used to emphasize personal hygiene and always ordered the workers to take showers or baths every day. He would say that those who do not keep their bodies clean cannot keep the facilities clean,” wrote a blogger. “This is the spirit we are looking for these days, when no one steps up to take full responsibility,” he added.

“Do you know where his tomb faces? It’s Pohang,” said a close relative of Park, who refused to be named. “He really wanted to look over the prosperity of the steel company and the country even after his death. That’s Park. That’s why we miss him.”

By Bae Ji-sook (baejisook@heraldcorp.com)