Nat'l Liberation Association names 20th chairman

Park Yu-chul

By Do Je-hae

The National Liberation Association named Park Yu-chul, 77, as its 20th chairman Tuesday.

The former minister of patriots and veterans affairs started his four-year term in a ceremony at the association's office in Yeoido. The association promotes the legacy of independence activists during the Japanese occupation (1910-1945).

“I will build on my past experiences to develop the National Liberation Association,” Park said.

Park has a wide range of experience in the independence movement. He served as the director of the Independence Hall of Korea in South Chungcheong Province and was actively involved in museum projects to honor key figures of the independence movement, such as Kim Gu and Ahn Jung-geun.

Park comes from a family of independence activists.

His father General Park Si-chang is a former head of the association. His grandfather was Park Eun-shik, the second president of Korea's interim government in Shanghai during the Japanese rule.