Lee Hae-rin is a City Desk reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues, tourism and taekwondo. She is passionate about speaking up for the rights of minorities, including women, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities and animals as well as discovering the latest makgeolli trend in town. Feel free to reach her at lhr@koreatimes.co.kr.
Nation divided on Liberation Day due to rift over Independence Hall head
Lee Jong-chan, head of the Heritage of Korean Independence, waves a Korean national flag during a Liberation Day ceremony, held at Kim Koo Museum and Library in Seoul's Yongsan District separately from the government-organized ceremony, Thursday. Yonhap
By Lee Hae-rin
Opposition parties, descendants of freedom fighters boycott gov't event
Korea ended up seeing two separate Aug. 15 Liberation Day events, Thursday, as civic groups and opposition parties boycotted a government-organized ceremony and held their own to protest the appointment of a new director of the Independence Hall of Korea, whom they accuse of being a pro-Japan figure.
This division marked an unprecedented split in the nation's long history of commemorating Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule (1910-45).
The Heritage of Korean Independence (HKI) and civic groups, including descendants of independence fighters, hosted their own ceremony at the Kim Koo Museum and Library in Seoul’s Yongsan District.
“Recently, widespread distortion of the truth and flawed historical perspectives tainted by pro-Japanese views have created significant confusion in our society," Lee Jong-chan, the head of HKI, said at the ceremony, apparently referring to Kim Hyoung-suk, the newly appointed head of the Independence Hall of Korea, who has faced allegations of justifying Japan’s colonization of Korea in lectures and speeches.
"We needed to demonstrate the resolve of our members as part of our unwavering effort to safeguard our historical consciousness and identity,” Lee said.
Over 350 people from the civic society, including descendants of independence activists, attended the event. Around 100 lawmakers from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), along with members of the minor opposition Rebuilding Korea Party and the Basic Income Party, opted to participate in this event rather than the government’s official celebration.
Rep. Park Chan-dae, the acting chairman of the DPK, criticized both the government and its appointment of the Independence Hall of Korea head.
"The history of the struggle for independence is being denied, and the identity of the Republic of Korea is being undermined at its core due to the historical coup d'état being perpetrated by the Yoon Suk Yeol administration," he said.
The leaders of the DPK also paid tribute to the grave of independence activists in Hyochang Park, while the leaders of the Rebuilding Korea Party held a press conference at Gwanghwamun Square calling for the withdrawal of Kim’s appointment.
National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-sik, a former member of the DPK, also skipped the government-hosted ceremony and visited Seoul National Cemetery to pay tribute to the independence movement. This marked the first time a National Assembly speaker, who is second in rank after the president in the state hierarchy, has refused to attend a government-organized Liberation Day event.
President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee, fourth from left, wave the national flag during a ceremony commemorating the 79th Liberation Day at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
Meanwhile, the government held an official ceremony at the Sejong Center for the Performing Arts in Seoul.
Over 2,000 people, including ruling People Power Party (PPP) members, foreign diplomats, and some descendants of independence fighters attended the ceremony.
“From the usurpation of national sovereignty to the present day, our people have written a great history,” Yoon said in a congratulatory speech. “Our liberation was the fruit of our struggle for freedom.”
The rival parties engaged in a blame game over the split in the Liberation Day observances.
PPP Chairman Han Dong-hoon called the situation "very regrettable."
"(Opposition party members) may have different opinions on Kim's appointment. But the Liberation Day ceremony is an event that all people should celebrate," he said.
Han Ji-ah, a PPP senior spokesperson, also said in a commentary that opposition figures who were absent in the celebration "are preoccupied with political agitation that fosters conflict and division."
An official at the presidential office also expressed regret over the situation.
"On Liberation Day, a day when all citizens should celebrate our freedom together, the actions of the political sphere that impose a pro-Japanese narrative and use it to sow division among the people are detrimental to the national interest," the official said.
In contrast, the DPK's acting chairman criticized Yoon and said, “The president is governing the country based solely on a flawed ideology, leading to division within the nation.”