An old man unfurls one of tomes of the Dictionary of Collaborators displayed on the grave slab of independent fighter Kim Gu’s tomb in Hyochang Park, Seoul, Sunday. / Korea Times Photo by Koh Young-kwon |
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
The late former President Park Chung-hee, father of Park Geun-hye, the former leader of the governing Grand National Party, is included on a list of 4,389 collaborators during Japanese colonial rule (1910-1945).
The Dictionary of Collaborators also lists first Prime Minister Jang Myun, renowned dancer Choi Seung-hee and composer of the national anthem, Ahn Eak-tai. Jang Ji-yeon, an opinion leader, who was noted for his poem against Japan's absorption of Korea, is also included for acting as an active supporter late into the Japanese occupation.
The list, released by the Institute for Research on Collaborationist Activists, dropped former Prime Minister Shin Hyon-hwak, who contributed greatly to the nation's industrialization, and two others after a review following requests by their families.
Park, who was in power for 18 years after his 1961 coup, was blacklisted for his pledge of allegiance to Imperial Japan and its army in 1939.
He made the pledge, written in blood, "I am both physically and spiritually ready to be a Japanese subject and am willing to give my life for the emperor." The pledge was made as a self-recommendation to the Japanese Army.
Park Ji-man, son of the authoritarian leader, filed for a court injunction but his request was rejected.
Supporters and opponents got into a shouting match in front of a Sookmyung Woman's University building, where the book was scheduled to be released at a press conference.
Opponents claimed that the report exaggerated certain issues, while supporters called for sincere apologies from the offspring of those on the list.
The venue of release was shifted at the last minute to the tomb of independent fighter Kim Gu at Hyochang Park.
The institute, which was responsible for compilation, said those who had "actively" taken part in the promotion or administration of Japanese rules were listed.
The report for the book was drawn up by 150 professional historians, and was written by 150 people, with 80 researchers studying more than 3,000 documents. The institute will study another 400 names for inclusion.
It was launched as part of a governmental project to "reveal the truth" about the Korean history, but its budget was scrapped by the National Assembly. The book was completed and released thanks to a donation of 750 million won by 30,000 citizens.
bjs@koreatimes.co.kr
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