A district office in Seoul announced its plan on Wednesday to build a park to commemorate Park Chung-hee, the late president and father of the incumbent leader, drawing criticism for the big-ticket project despite a tight budget.

Seoul’s Jung-gu Office said it will push to build the some 4,000 square-meter commemorative park near the former president’s residence in central Seoul with a budget of 20 billion won ($17.8 million).

Former President Park, who ruled the country from 1961-1979 after seizing power in a military coup, stayed in the house in Shindang-dong for 39 months starting in 1958 while he served as the Army’s director-general. His daughter and incumbent President Park Geun-hye also resided there for about 10 years after her father was assassinated by his top intelligence aide in 1979.

The residence itself was designated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government as a cultural asset in 2008 and has been under its management.

Under the envisioned plan, the district office plans to buy the properties surrounding the house and create a memorial hall along with green areas to exhibit materials about the late president’s key projects and other souvenirs. (Yonhap News)