In the Liberation Association President's Speech on 'Chinilcheongsan'... Ruling Party: "We Will Deeply Reflect" vs Opposition: "Rogue Behavior"

Kim Won-woong, President of the Liberation Association, "Syngman Rhee Colluded with Pro-Japanese Factions" Liberation Day Commemorative Speech Sparks Controversy
Democratic Party Presidential Candidate Park Ju-min Responds, "I Will Reflect Deeply"
United Party Lawmakers React Angrily... "'Brutal Acts'... Feel Unbearable Insult"

Kim Won-woong, President of the Liberation Association, delivers a commemorative speech at the 75th Liberation Day Celebration held at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul on the morning of the 15th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Minwoo Lee] The ruling and opposition parties have shown mixed reactions to the Liberation Day congratulatory speech by Kim Won-woong, chairman of the Korea Liberation Association, who stated that former President Syngman Rhee colluded with pro-Japanese collaborators, and that our society has yet to complete the purge of pro-Japanese elements. While a ruling party official welcomed the remarks, saying they would deeply reflect on them, the opposition fiercely criticized them as "barbaric behavior."

Democratic Party Lawmaker Park Jumin Responds "Will Deeply Reflect" and Chairman Kim Replies "Comrade!"

On the 15th, marking the 75th anniversary of Liberation Day, Park Jumin, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, visited the Korea Liberation Association in Yeouido, Seoul, and said, "Chairman Kim's Liberation Day speech, stating that the purge of pro-Japanese collaborators is not a partisan issue between ruling and opposition parties nor an ideological issue between conservatives and progressives, but a command from the people, is something I deeply reflect on." He added, "I hope that the 75th anniversary of Liberation Day will be a starting point for a transition toward a better future through historical education."

Earlier, Chairman Kim, in his 75th Liberation Day commemorative speech held at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul, made remarks such as "Syngman Rhee colluded with pro-Japanese collaborators," "Ahn Ik-tae was a national traitor," and "South Korea is the only country that has not properly purged national traitors." In response, Park, a candidate for party leadership, personally visited Chairman Kim to express his agreement. Chairman Kim gifted Park an interim legislative assembly Taegeukgi flag and historical books related to teacher Shin Jae-ho, replying, "Comrade Park Jumin, fly straight and strong."

Opposition's Sharp Criticism: 'Barbaric Behavior,' 'Unbearable Insult'... "Stop Dividing the People"

On the other hand, the opposition strongly criticized Chairman Kim's remarks. Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong skipped his prepared congratulatory speech at the commemorative event and instead gave an impromptu speech expressing strong regret over Chairman Kim's speech. Governor Won said, "I deeply regret the act of having the chairman of the Jeju branch of the Korea Liberation Association read a commemorative speech containing a highly biased historical view that the majority of our people and Jeju residents cannot agree with," adding, "As the governor of Jeju Province, I cannot agree with the content." He continued, "I cannot agree with the perspective that divides people into sides, claiming only one is right and the others must be condemned, fragmenting history and dividing the people. If such speeches continue to be sent, I will reconsider all plans and administrative executions for the Liberation Day celebration from scratch," emphasizing his stance.

Kim Ki-hyun, a lawmaker from the United Future Party, described Chairman Kim's remarks as "barbaric behavior" and said he felt "an unbearable insult." On his Facebook, Kim criticized, "The Liberation Day ceremony was tarnished by the barbaric behavior of a chairman who is not even capable. While failing to say a proper word to Japan, he points a knife at the people and stirs up factionalism. Such a person is unfit to be chairman of the Korea Liberation Association."

Lawmaker Heo Eun-ah also wrote on Facebook, "Chairman Kim Won-woong's commemorative speech, which became the root cause of social division, was a message that could never and should never come from the chairman of the Korea Liberation Association of the Republic of Korea," and argued, "Kim Won-woong, who is anti-Japan, pro-North Korea, anti-America, and pro-Moon Jae-in faction, should be dismissed." She added, "This speech is something that should come from Kim Yo-jong, head of the Propaganda and Agitation Department of the Workers' Party of Korea, not from the chairman of the Korea Liberation Association," and said, "As the administration's approval rating falls, they are trying to profit from 'anti-Japan business.'"

Kim Geun-sik, chairman of the United Future Party's Songpa-byeong district party committee in Seoul and a professor at Gyeongnam University, criticized Chairman Kim by referring to his past with the Republican Party, Democratic Justice Party, and Grand National Party. Kim said, "If Syngman Rhee is criticized solely by the pro-Japanese standard and Ahn Ik-tae is cursed as a national traitor, then Kim Won-woong should be condemned as a collaborator by the dictatorship standard," adding, "How will you erase the history of Kim Won-woong, who passed the public recruitment exam for Park Chung-hee's Republican Party, served as a party member of Chun Doo-hwan's Democratic Justice Party, participated in the founding of the Grand National Party, and was elected as a Grand National Party candidate?"