Japanese scholar, US doctor named directors of independence museum

Yuji Hosaka

By Park Si-soo

Japanese scholar Yuji Hosaka was appointed as one of five non-standing executives of the Independence Hall of Korea, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs said Monday.

It is a history museum focusing on Japan’s forced occupation of the Korean Peninsula from 1910-45.

The other appointees were John Linton, director of the Severance Hospital International Health Care Center; Lee Kyu-hwan, professor at Chung-Ang University; Sohn Bum-soo, former KBS TV anchor and grandson of the late independence fighter Sohn Hee-up; and Park Jong-min, professor at Kyung Hee University and grandson of the late independence fighter Park Hee-nam.

Hosaka is well-known for his pro-Korean attitude and academic achievements. He has carried out various studies and research, discovering untold acts of atrocity Japan committed against Korean people during the 35-year-long occupation.

The 54-year-old is also a vocal advocate that Dokdo ― the rocky islets that lie roughly halfway between Korea and Japan ― is Korean territory.

Hosaka currently heads the Dokdo Research Institute at Sejong University in Seoul. He has written a number of books and papers on the islets and Korea-Japan relations.

Linton has dual-citizenship, Korea and the United States. He was granted Korean citizenship in 2012 in recognition of his medial contributions here and about 100 years of outstanding achievements by his ancestors in the country.

He helped establish the emergency medical system by developing special ambulances customized for Koreans in 1993. He has also continued sending medical supplies to North Korea since 1997 as part of his volunteer work.

The Linton family’s ties to Korea date back to 1895, when William Linton, John’s grandfather, first arrived in the country with his father-in-law, Eugene Bell, a Southern Presbyterian missionary.

William Linton established schools and participated in the anti-Japanese occupation movement during the colonial era, which the Korean government later acknowledged, honoring him with a national award in 2010.

Hugh Linton, John’s father, also made great contributions, building a tuberculosis clinic in 1960, and participating in the 1950-1953 Korean War. He was also honored in 2005.