Apology from Rhees son blocked

Nation marks 51st anniversary of 1960 uprising

By Kim Rahn

Family members of Korea’s first President Syngman Rhee were unable to make a public apology to the families of victims killed during a pro-democracy uprising against Rhee’s regime as they were blocked by the bereaved family members.

The latter claimed that an apology without sincerity is worse than not apologizing at all.

Rhee’s adopted son, In-soo, and about 20 members from a society honoring the country’s first president visited the National Cemetery for an April 19 Revolution commemoration in northern Seoul, Tuesday, the 51st anniversary of the student uprising that led to regime change in 1960.

It was the first time that Rhee’s family and aides have acknowledged his authoritarian rule and previous wrongdoings. More than 180 people were killed and 6,400 others injured during the protests against election fraud orchestrated by Rhee’s aides.

They planned to pay their respects at the graveyard and issue an apologetic statement. But when the bus carrying them entered the cemetery gate, some 70 members from victim-related groups blocked the vehicle.

Rhee’s son then got off the bus and tried to read a statement, but the group members stopped him, with a scuffle occurring between the two sides. He was soon forced to leave.

In a press briefing later in the day, he said it was regrettable that the apology was rejected which he and the society were offering 51 years after the protests.

“But I understand how they feel, as they lost family members and the then government is to blame. I hope they will understand my wish that an apology should be made for historic wrongdoing and reconciliation should be reached,” he said.

The son said he believes they will accept his sincerity soon, noting, “The society and the victims-related groups’ working together and contributing to the nation’s development may be the wish of both the late president and the victims.”

The victims’ groups claimed his move was not a sincere apology but a political show, saying he didn’t inform any of them of his apology in advance but just isued a press release.

The group said in a statement that, “Rhee’s family claims the former president didn’t know about the election rigging and the students’ deaths, but this is a distortion of history. They are also moving to erect a statue of Rhee, who sought to maintain power but was purged by citizens, at Gwanghwamun. Their move for an apology only disgraces the uprising.”

Earlier in the morning, President Lee Myung-bak paid tribute to the victims at the cemetery.

In a commemoration ceremony, Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik urged people to continue with the April 19 uprising spirit that sought freedom, democracy and justice. “The spirit of sacrifice is revived whenever the nation faces a crisis in democracy. The nation can advance faster if we all carry on with this spirit,” he said.