Government vs. Independence Movement Group – No “Special Remembrance Service”… Concerns About ‘Half Day’

Lee Jong-chan does not participate in the event for the descendants of exceptional people.
Lee: “Independence Hall Director Kim Hyeong-seok must resign.”
Open the last door… “Please show sincerity”
Kim “There is no reason to leave except to fire the person named.

Lunch attendance inviting descendants of independence fighters
President Yoon Seok-yeol (center) attends a luncheon for the descendants of independence fighters held at the Blue House guest house on the 14th and says a moment of silence for the beloved martyrs. Heo Mimi (President Yoon’s left), who is a fifth-generation descendant of the late independence activist Heo Seok and won a silver medal as a member of the national judo team at the 2024 Paris Olympics, was also present. Presidential photo press agency

As the dispute over the appointment of Kim Hyeong-seok, the director of the Korean Independence Hall, is not resolved, there is every chance that the government’s Independence Day celebration will be a ‘half’ event. held on the 15th. . The opposition parties, including the Liberation Association, a group of descendants of independence activists, some independence movement groups, and the Democratic Party of Korea, decided to boycott the celebration and hold a separate memorial event. if the government does not accept the request for a Director. Kim resigns. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik, a member of the Democratic Party, decided not to attend the Independence Day ceremony organized by the government on the 15th. It is unique in history that on Liberation Day, a ceremony held by the government and a ceremony held by the opposition party and independence movement groups will be held separately. There are concerns that the meaning of Independence Day, which should be a time of national unity, will fade as it will lead to conflict and division.

● 尹 “It is better to treat worthy people and descendants in a suitable way”

On the 14th, a day before Independence Day, President Yoon Seok-yeol invited about 100 descendants of independence fighters to lunch at the Blue House guest house and said, “We will do our best to sure that the spirit and legacy of independence has been left behind. with independence heroes will always be remembered, and worthy people and their descendants will receive proper treatment.” “I’ll do my best,” he said. He said, “We will never forget to preserve the will of our ancestors and develop the value of freedom,” and he said, “We will do our best to build a Republic of Korea of ​​freedom, peace and prosperity.”

However, Lee Jong-chan, the chairman of the Liberation Party, who was invited, was not present. Last year, Chairman Lee attended as a guest of honor and shared ideas while sitting at the same table as President Yoon. President Yoon did not mention Chairman Lee’s absence or the National Foundation Day controversy.

At the event, Binggrae Chairman Kim Ho-yeon, Baekbeom’s granddaughter-in-law Kim Gu, Lee Ok-bi, the only daughter of the poet Lee Yuk-sa, and Heo Mimi, the granddaughter of the late independence fifth generation . activist Heo Seok, a silver medalist as a member of the national judo team at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

● “fantastic memorial service” Lee Jong-chan, Kim Hyeong-seok “no reason to go back”

野 visits Independence Hall and “withdraws the role of leader”
Democratic Party lawmakers, including Democratic Party of Korea Rep. Kim Yong-man (left), Kim Gu’s great-grandson, want Kim Hyeong-seok, leader of the Neo- independence of Korea, to withdraw. , at the Korean Independence Hall in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, on the 14th. They asked to see data about the selection process, including evaluation scores during Director Kim’s interview, but were denied. Cheonan = Reporter Byun Young-wook cut@donga.com Chairman Lee said in a phone call with the Dong-A Ilbo that day, “The door is finally open. I hope the government shows sincerity. “We praise the wrong (Director of the Korean Independence Hall) as long as they say they will do it again,” he said, adding, “Our stance is not to participate in events with government support still unchanged. “Leader Kim must decide to step down on his own,” he said.

However, Director Kim held a press conference at the Korean Independence Hall in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province today and said, “I have no reason to resign since I received a letter appointment from the government and promised to fulfill my role faithfully. responsibilities as a leader.” In a previous phone call with the Dong-A Ilbo, he said, “It would be inevitable if the president, who is the appointing authority, were to fire me, but I cannot imagine that such a thing would happen and it is unnecessary predicted. he.” He said, “There is no one else who would make such a request to me, and even if he did, “Even if I do that, I will never answer.”

With ‘Half Liberation Day’ approaching, the Office of the President plans to try until the last minute to persuade Chairman Lee to attend the event hosted by the government. However, it has been reported that the withdrawal of Director Kim’s appointment will not be accepted as there is no reason for disqualification or difficulties in the review process. A high-ranking official in the Office of the President said, “There has been no change in the situation so far, but we will do our best until the morning of the 15th.” He said, “We are clearing up any misunderstandings about the National Promotion of Scotland’s National Day as much as possible, and will focus on resolving the conflict by urging Chairman Lee to every side.”

● ‘separate’ government, independence movement group-野 ‘separate’

37 independence movement groups, including the Liberation Association, plan to boycott the celebration unless Director Kim, a ‘New Right’ figure who defends Japanese colonial rule, resigns. and hold their own ceremony at the Baekbeom Memorial Hall in Hyochang Park, Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 15th. President Lee is known to criticize the biased anti-Japanese policy stance of the Yoon Seok-yeol government during his memorial speech. Separately, the Federation of Anti-Japanese Independence Movement Promotion Groups (Anti-Japan Independence Movement Promotion Groups), which consists of 25 independence activist promotion groups, will hold together with civil society organizations such as the Institute for Korean Studies , celebration celebrating Liberation. Day at the Three Martyrs Cemetery in Hyochang Park on the afternoon of the 15th.

The Democratic Party also plans to avoid the government’s event and attend a ceremony held by the Liberation Society to issue a statement criticizing the government. Park Chan-dae, the party’s acting leader and floor leader, said at the party’s summit today, “The Yoon Seok-yeol regime is the worst anti-Japanese attraction regime in the history of the Republic of Korea, which has almost entered the stage of spiritual unity between the government and the government,” and asked Director Kim to resign.

Reporter Hwang Hyeong-jun constant25@donga.com
Military reporter Sang-ho Yoon ysh1005@donga.com
Reporter Seungwoo Lee suwoong2@donga.com