Hapcheon-gun, Public Opinion Survey on Jeon Du-hwan's Art Name Controversy at Ilhae Park

Jeonhae Park Jeon Du-hwan Autograph Monument.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] Hapcheon-gun, Gyeongnam Province, has decided to conduct its own public opinion survey to change the name of Ilhae Park, which has been controversial for being named after former President Jeon Du-hwan's pen name 'Ilhae' (日海).

The county announced on the 4th that it plans to conduct a public opinion survey on changing the name of Ilhae Park in cooperation with six local media outlets to gather residents' opinions.

Previously, the local civic group 'Hapcheon Residents' Movement to Reclaim the Forest of Life' conducted its own survey with Hwanggang Newspaper targeting 500 residents aged 18 and older. The results showed 56% in favor of changing the name of Ilhae Park and 36% opposed.

The civic group demanded that County Governor Moon Jun-hee keep his promise to decide on the park's name change based on residents' opinions, citing this survey as evidence.

However, the county stated that since the survey was independently conducted in the private sector, it cannot be used as a basis for discussing the park's name change. They argued that the lack of guaranteed fairness and objectivity raises doubts about the survey results and could lead to further conflicts.

Therefore, the county decided to conduct a public opinion survey involving public institutions and multiple local media outlets. The survey will be carried out with local media deciding on questions, samples, and methods, while the county will place the final order.

A county official said, "There have been various opinions, such as distrust of the civic group's survey results, so it is difficult to continue follow-up discussions based solely on that. Although it is a bit late, we will conduct a public opinion survey that guarantees fairness and objectivity."

Ilhae Park, which opened in 2004 under the name 'New Millennium Forest of Life,' was renamed 'Ilhae Park' in 2007 after former President Jeon Du-hwan's pen name 'Ilhae' (日海), and has been embroiled in controversy over its name for 14 years.

At the park entrance, a monument engraved with former President Jeon’s handwritten calligraphy was erected, with an inscription on the back stating, "This monument is erected to eternally commemorate to future generations that this is the proud hometown where President Jeon Du-hwan was born."