Lee Hyo-jin covers the Bank of Korea, the banking industry and broader financial news. Her previous beats include foreign affairs, North Korea and general reporting on Korean society.
Ideological dispute over historical figures engulfs Korean politics
A bust of independence fighter Hong Beom-do is seen outside the Ministry of National Defense's headquarters in Yongsan District, Seoul, Monday. Yonhap
By Lee Hyo-jin
Gov't considers relocating bust of independence fighter from defense ministry
By Lee Hyo-jin
Ideological conflicts surrounding historical figures are escalating among politicians, as the government seeks to relocate the bust of independence fighter Hong Beom-do, which currently stands near the defense ministry building.
The Ministry of National Defense said Monday that it is considering relocating the bust citing Hong's past involvement with Soviet communist forces. The plan has triggered protests from opposition parties and an association representing independence fighters.
The dispute is a recurring theme in Korean politics where conservatives and liberals tend to hold different views on Korea's history following its independence from Japanese colonial occupation from 1910 to 1945.
“There have been recent indications about General Hong Beom-do's affiliation with the Communist Party and other activities related to it,” said defense ministry spokesperson Jeon Ha-kyu during a briefing.
The move is in line with the ministry's plan to remove the busts of five independence fighters ― including Hong ― from the Korean Military Academy in Seoul, also due to their past collaboration with the Soviet Communist Party.
Regarding this, Jeon said, “The installation of the monuments (at the military academy) was pushed ahead somewhat abruptly in 2018 without a general consensus, leading to various disagreements within the military, as I understand.”
Born in 1868, Hong is a renowned independence fighter who was the commander-in-chief of the Korean Independence Army. He led some 1,300 freedom fighters to victory against Japanese forces at the Battle of Bongodong in 1920.
In 1921, Hong moved to the Soviet Far East, seeking refuge from Japan's attempts to capture him. He was forced to relocate to Kazakhstan in 1937 under then Soviet Union leader Joseph Stalin's policy, along with many other ethnic Koreans.
“It is regretful that the legacy of the independence fighter has become a source of political and ideological debates,” political commentator Rhee Jong-hoon told The Korea Times. “If we look at the history of Korea's independence movement as a whole, General Hong Beom-do cannot be described as a communist.”
Busts of six independence fighters stand near the Ministry of National Defense's headquarters in Yongsan District, Seoul, Monday. The independence activists represented are Hong Beom-do, Ahn Jung-geun, Yoon Bong-gil, Lee Bong-chang, Kang Woo-kyu and Park Seung-kwan. Yonhap
Some critics viewed that the plan to remove the monuments of independence fighters aligns with the Yoon administration's recent tactics of branding its opponents as “communists.” In his Liberation Day speech on Aug. 15, Yoon lashed out at “anti-state forces” which he described as “blindly follow(ing) communist totalitarianism,” and urged the public not to be deceived by such forces.
Rhee commented that the government's anti-communist ideology would only appeal to the far-right supporters, and thus would not be helpful to the Yoon administration in the long term.
The presidential office said it is up to the defense ministry or military academy to make a decision on the relocation or removal of the busts of independence fighters.
Rep. Woo Won-shik of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), who heads a foundation commemorating Hong, condemned the defense ministry's move.
“The abrupt announcement about the removal of the bust, citing vague reasons, brings humiliation to the independence fighter,” he said during an interview on a local radio program, Monday.
Woo explained that there are no records indicating that Hong actually engaged in the activities of the Communist Party, although the independence fighter had briefly joined the party in 1927 to make ends meet.
“It's really hard to understand why they would bring up the issue which has already been settled under former President Park Chung-hee, during the so-called Cold War era,” the lawmaker said. Hong was rewarded with the Order of Merit for National Foundation posthumously by Park in 1963.
The ruling People Power Party (PPP) took a cautious stance on the matter. Rep. Yoo Sang-bum, the party spokesperson, told reporters that “the defense ministry and the military academy will make a reasonable decision considering the public opinion.”
Similar disputes arose surrounding Gwangju Metropolitan Government's controversial plan to build a park in honor of communist composer Jeong Yul-seong.
Conservative civic groups hold a rally in front of the Gwangju Metropolitan Government, Monday, demanding the city government to withdraw construction plans for a park commemorating communist composer Jeong Yul-seong. Yonhap
Born in Gwangju around 1914, Jeong moved to China in 1933 where he studied music and entered the Korean independence fighter training academy in Nanjing before joining the Chinese Communist Party in 1939.
Minister of Veterans Affairs and Patriots Park Min-shik on Monday called on Gwangju City to withdraw its plan. Describing Jeong as “a cheerleader for our enemies who wielded guns and swords against us,” Park told reporters that his ministry will do whatever it takes to deter the project to build the park.
But Gwangju Mayor Kang Ki-jung said the project will commence as planned.
“It (the project) is something that the citizens of Gwangju have come together for… it is not a project to be ashamed of to be considered wrong,” he said during a press conference held on the same day. Kang also added that Jeong is an important figure for Korea in forging closer bilateral ties with China.