[Summary] "National Anthem Copies Bulgarian Folk Song," "Baek Seon-yeop Deserves Death" Kim Won-woong's Remarks Spark Ongoing Controversy

"Lee Seungman Became President by Clinging to the US"
"The National Anthem Copied Over 60 Parts from Bulgarian Folk Songs"
Regarding the Political Careers in the Republican and Democratic Justice Parties: "It Was for Livelihood"

Kim Won-woong, President of the Liberation Association, is delivering a commemorative speech at the 75th Liberation Day Celebration held on the morning of the 15th at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Kim Won-woong, chairman of the Liberation Association, who advocated for "cleansing pro-Japanese collaborators" in his Liberation Day commemorative speech, sparked continuous controversy on the 17th by claiming that "the national anthem was plagiarized from a Bulgarian folk song" and that "General Baek Seon-yeop deserves the death penalty."

Earlier, on the morning of the 15th, at the Liberation Day celebration held at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul, Chairman Kim strongly criticized, saying, "What holds back the brilliant future of our nation is pro-Japanese collaborators rooted in collaboration with Japan and parasitic on the division," and "the failure to cleanse pro-Japanese collaborators is a fundamental disease of Korean society."

On that day, he claimed, "Syngman Rhee violently disbanded the Anti-Japanese Special Committee and colluded with pro-Japanese factions," and mentioned, "We received related materials from the German government that composer Ahn Eak-tai, who composed the national anthem, was involved in pro-Japanese and pro-Nazi activities."

Following Chairman Kim's remarks, the United Future Party immediately reacted. Bae Jun-young, spokesperson for the United Future Party, strongly criticized in a statement, calling it "an outrageous claim to call the first provisional government president only by name, deny the national anthem of the Republic of Korea, and even suggest digging up graves at the National Cemetery," and urged Chairman Kim to resign.

Kim Ki-hyun, a United Future Party lawmaker, criticized on his Facebook post, calling it "the reckless behavior of a Liberation Association chairman who is not competent," and lamented, "It is unfortunate that the Liberation Day ceremony has been tarnished."

President Moon Jae-in and Kim Won-woong, President of the Liberation Association (right), are entering the 75th Liberation Day Celebration held at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul on the morning of the 15th. / Photo by Yonhap News

Amid the controversy, Chairman Kim appeared consecutively on MBC radio's "Kim Jong-bae's Focus" and KBS radio's "Kim Kyung-rae's Strongest Current Affairs" on the 17th, rebutting, "I only talked about cleansing pro-Japanese collaborators, but seeing the United Future Party jump up and curse, I think they must feel guilty," and added, "They have admitted themselves to be pro-Japanese protector forces."

On that day, Chairman Kim continued to criticize former President Syngman Rhee and composer Ahn Eak-tai's pro-Japanese actions. He stated, "99% of the responsibility for the failure to cleanse pro-Japanese collaborators lies with President Syngman Rhee," and defined him as "someone who clung to the United States after liberation, became president, and prioritized American national interests."

He also claimed that Ahn Eak-tai not only collaborated with Japan but plagiarized over 60 parts of the national anthem's melody from Bulgarian folk songs, insisting, "It must be changed immediately."

He pointed out that the achievements of the recently deceased General Baek Seon-yeop during the Korean War were exaggerated. Chairman Kim said, "When the Korean War broke out, the 1st Army Division led by General Baek did not show up, and soldiers fled across the Han River," adding, "Just for that, I said he deserves the death penalty."

Regarding his political history during the military dictatorship era, including working at the Democratic Republican Party office under Park Chung-hee's regime in 1972 and later moving to the Democratic Justice Party after Chun Doo-hwan's regime began, he said, "I made a living and supported my family as a (Republican Party employee)," and "Although it was for livelihood, I have original sin, so I advocate more strongly for cleansing pro-Japanese collaborators."

He also confessed, "Honestly, it is all true that I was involved with the Republican Party and the Democratic Justice Party," and expressed, "Although it was for livelihood, I feel ashamed that I was involved in the military dictatorship regime."

Lee Nak-yeon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, is delivering a policy speech at the online joint speech meeting for the party leader and supreme councilor candidates from the Honam and Chungcheong regions, held at the Democratic Party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 16th. / Photo by Yonhap News

Regarding Chairman Kim's remarks, ruling party leadership candidates defended him, saying that although the expressions were regrettable, they agreed with the overall message.

Lee Nak-yeon, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said in a radio interview that day about Chairman Kim's remarks on cleansing pro-Japanese collaborators, "As the chairman of the Liberation Association, he can express that level of awareness," and added, "Many people agree that the remnants of pro-Japanese collaborators have not been sufficiently cleansed until now. The chairman just spoke more strongly about it."

Former Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Boo-kyum said, "I regret that the expression did not consider the perspective of national unity," but added, "It is something that can be said on the occasion of Liberation Day."

On the other hand, the United Future Party criticized Chairman Kim's remarks as inciting national division. Kim Eun-hye, spokesperson for the United Future Party, said, "When the history of collaboration was exposed, he said it was unavoidable because it was for livelihood, but 'livelihood' is not appropriate for someone who should lead the proud history of Korea's liberation," emphasizing, "The survival and excuses of a political turncoat must not be repeated for the independence activists who resisted the Joseon suffering era and Japanese colonial rule."

She added, "Now the president must answer. Will you again overlook the agitator who only stirs up the wounds of history and uses them as kindling for national division with silent complicity?" and criticized, "With the whole nation exhausted by COVID-19 and real estate issues, are you going to push the country into the smoke of conflict again?"