[Column] Is the Ruling Party's Campaign to Remove Pro-Japanese Collaborators' Graves Acceptable?

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] "Is it possible that after you pass away, your enemy becomes a ghost right next to you and plays around?"

These were the words of Kang Chang-il, Chairman of the Special Committee on History and Justice of the Democratic Party, at the public hearing held on the 13th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, two days before the 75th Liberation Day, regarding the amendment of the Decoration Act and the National Cemetery Act. This reflects the ruling party's strong will to forcibly relocate pro-Japanese collaborators buried in the National Cemetery.

Recently, the ruling party has been continuously proposing bills to remove pro-Japanese figures from the National Cemetery. Last month, Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Hong-gul proposed a partial amendment to the "Act on the Establishment and Operation of National Cemeteries," which mandates the relocation of pro-Japanese collaborators, as determined by the Committee for the Investigation of Pro-Japanese and Anti-National Acts, from the National Cemetery such as the National Cemetery for Patriots and Veterans. On the 11th, fellow party member Kwon Chil-seung also proposed a similar bill.

"We must no longer repeat the principle-less confusion where nationalists who fought against Japanese colonial rule and anti-nationalists who collaborated with Japan are both revered as figures who sacrificed for the country," said Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Su-jin, representing the ruling party's logic.

It is worth considering whether it is truly right for the political sphere, especially the ruling party with its overwhelming 176 seats, to lead such a public opinion campaign in this manner. If these bills pass, the number of individuals subject to exhumation from the National Cemetery will inevitably increase. This likely includes the late General Baek Seon-yeop and even former President Park Chung-hee. The historical evaluation of these figures is still ongoing. There are concerns that this could stir public confusion.

Every human has both merits and faults. It is impossible to quantify which outweighs the other. Merits should be evaluated as merits, and faults as faults. While the Democratic Party is free to make its own assessments, it should not impose the standards of merit and fault it has established on the public.

Kim Jong-in, Emergency Committee Chairman of the United Future Party, sharply criticized, "I don't know what 'purpose' those people have in doing such things, but it will not be accepted by the public." The timing is quite coincidental enough for Chairman Kim to mention 'purpose.' Recently, the ruling party has been struggling with declining approval ratings. Public confusion over real estate policies is intensifying, and public sentiment is volatile due to flooding caused by heavy rains.

The most efficient and easiest way for politicians to gain support is through ideological 'divide and rule.' Looking back, the conservative party politically exploited North Korea, and the progressive party countered with a 'pro-Japanese frame.' It is inevitable to suspect whether the ruling party is provoking ideological conflict instead of focusing on people's livelihoods. To dispel such misunderstandings and gain recognition for the sincerity of the exhumation law, the ruling party should listen more attentively to the voices of the opposition and the public.