Seoul Metropolitan Council Hosts 'Democratic Republic Drawer Exhibition' to Celebrate Local Autonomy in South Korea

From the 15th to the 21st, a special exhibition at Citizen Hall Gallery... A valuable opportunity to explore the history of local autonomy contained in the Provisional Charter of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] The exhibition "A New Century, Promises to Keep: Democratic Republic Drawer Exhibition," jointly hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Council and the Jo So-ang Memorial Foundation, will be held from the 15th to the 21st at the Citizen Hall Gallery in the basement of Seoul City Hall.

This event is planned to commemorate the 101st anniversary of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea by publicly displaying and exhibiting historical materials such as the Provisional Charter and documents of the Provisional Assembly, reflecting on the beginning of the democratic republic of Korea, and recalling the historical significance of realizing local autonomy and decentralization.

The exhibition is organized to explore the aspirations for a democratic republic that ancestors sought during the Japanese colonial period through historical materials and quotes from key figures of the Provisional Government, including Jo So-ang, and to trace the footsteps of democracy and local autonomy in the constitutional history after liberation through Korea’s past constitutional amendments and materials related to President Kim Dae-jung.

Regarding this event, Kim Jeong-tae, head of the Local Decentralization TF of the Seoul Metropolitan Council (Democratic Party, Yeongdeungpo 2), stated, “The history of local decentralization that began with the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea has, in reality, regressed today,” adding, “I hope this democratic republic exhibition will be a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the democracy envisioned by our ancestors and the development of local councils, the flower of democracy.”

On the first day of the event, the 15th, an opening ceremony is scheduled to be held with key guests including Kim Saeng-hwan, vice chairman, attending on behalf of Shin Won-chul, chairman of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, along with independence activists and heads of supporting organizations.

Following this, a talk concert titled "The Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea and the Democratic Republic" will be presented by Han Si-jun, honorary professor of the Department of History at Dankook University.

The opening ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. in the Citizen Hall Gallery on the first basement floor of Seoul City Hall, and the talk concert will be held at 11 a.m. in the Basrak Hall on the second basement floor of Seoul City Hall.

Any interested citizens can attend free of charge, and for more detailed information about the exhibition, please contact the Local Decentralization Support Team of the Legislative Affairs Office of the Seoul Metropolitan Council at ☎2180-8303.

This exhibition is sponsored by Jeon Hye-sook, chairperson of the National Assembly’s Public Administration and Security Committee, the Presidential Committee on Local Autonomy, Seoul Metropolitan Government, and Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, and is organized by the Seoul Metropolitan Council and the Jo So-ang Memorial Foundation.