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Don’t split the event for Liberation Day

Published: 12 Aug. 2024, 20:34

The ceremony for the Aug. 15 Liberation Day could be split over the controversy over the appointment of Kim Hyung-seok as head of the Independence Hall of Korea. After the Heritage of Korean Independence, a group of descendants of independence fighters, vowed to not attend the government-hosted official ceremony and instead hold a separate ceremony of their own, other associations related to the independence movement are also planning to hold their own event. The majority Democratic Party (DP) and other oppositions pledged to not attend the official ceremony.

They point to Kim’s pro-Japanese stance. Last year, he said, “The Republic of Korea was established on August 15, 1948, when the government was established, not on August 15, 1945, when the country was liberated from Japanese colonial rule.” In his 2022 book, he also wrote that we cannot evaluate Ahn Eak-tai, the legendary classical composer and conductor, solely based on whether he was pro-Japan or not.

Kim’s such views could have irked the descendants of independence fighters and the progressives. Nevertheless, we can’t simply define him as a pro-Japanese figure. The Heritage of Korean Independence claimed that his appointment represents the conservative government’s move toward the designation of Aug. 15, 1948 as the national foundation day. But Kim clearly expressed his opposition to the idea of designating that day as the national foundation day. He also said he has no intention to dishonor independence fighters or defend Japan’s colonial rule of Korea.

But questions linger over whether he was really the most appropriate person for the position. Despite the apparent friction with independence movement-related groups, the government pushed his appointment, which reminds us of the unnecessary conflict the government triggered by relocating the bust of revered independence fighter Hong Beom-do from the Military Academy last year, citing his Communist records. We hope President Yoon Suk Yeol persuades opponents to attend the ceremony. The annual event must not split no matter what.

The Heritage of Korean Independence must reconsider its decision to boycott the ceremony, which is a meaningful event to deepen patriotism and move toward a better future of the country. The DP and the splinter opposition Rebuilding Korea Party are ratcheting up the level of their attacks on the conservative government to score political points by fueling anti-Japanese sentiment. But the New Reform Party, another minor party, requested the two oppositions to reconsider their decisions to not attend the ceremony. We hope they accept the reform party’s demand before it’s too late.