[Interview] Seong Jang-hyeon, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, "Yongsan History Museum Opening, Standing Tall as a Historical and Cultural Tourism City" Yongsan-gu Competitiveness

Opening of Yongsan History Museum as the Core of History Projects... Fruit of Designation as a Historical and Cultural Renaissance Special Zone

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] “A city is a living organism. It is born anew, grows, and then declines. This happens because of the people living within that space. In that sense, Yongsan-gu is the most dynamic city. It is a land of pain that has shared Korea’s modern and contemporary 100-year history, and in the past decade, it has truly experienced a transformation beyond recognition?a land of growth. This is also why there are many traces of the independence movement, war, and division throughout the city. As the skyline changes, we have been steadily working to preserve and document these historical traces out of concern that they might disappear.”

Yongsan-gu Mayor Seong Jang-hyun began the interview with this explanation of “why Yongsan-gu started its historical projects.” Mayor Seong’s commitment to history was reflected immediately upon his inauguration as the mayor during the 5th local government term. Since 2011, he has welcomed the new year by paying respects with officials and residents at the Hyochangwon Shrine. The district also sponsors an annual memorial event for the seven patriotic martyrs. The once firmly closed shrine was refurbished and opened to the public in 2016.

Mayor Seong emphasized, “Chairman Baekbeom Kim Gu of the Provisional Government, who inherited the spirit of the March 1st Movement, along with Lee Dong-nyeong, Jo Seong-hwan, Cha Ri-seok, and patriots Lee Bong-chang, Yun Bong-gil, and Baek Jeong-gi, rest here in Yongsan-gu. There are also records that Yu Gwan-sun was buried in the Itaewon communal cemetery before being reinterred,” adding, “We are continuously promoting projects that carry on the spirit of our patriotic martyrs.”

In September 2015, Yongsan-gu erected a memorial monument for Yu Gwan-sun in the Itaewon Bugundang Historical Park and holds an annual memorial ceremony. In February 2017, together with Professor Seo Kyung-duk, they held a commemorative event marking the execution date of patriot Ahn Jung-geun. In October 2020, the Lee Bong-chang Patriot History Hall was also opened. On April 12, the anniversary of the establishment of the Korean Provisional Government, Yongsan will declare itself as the “City of Patriotic Martyrs.”

Regarding the Yongsan History Museum, which opened on the 23rd of last month, Mayor Seong said, “This has been a project prepared since the start of the 5th local government term. From site selection to artifact collection, it was not an easy journey, so I am extremely proud that we were able to open it during my term.”

The Yongsan Museum, remodeled from the registered cultural heritage site Yongsan Railroad Hospital, will serve as the control tower for Yongsan-gu’s historical projects and play a pivotal role in the Historical and Cultural Renaissance Special Zone project. The district’s historical projects have also been recognized for contributing to local economic revitalization, leading to its designation as a Historical and Cultural Renaissance Special Zone by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups in April last year. Over the next four years, 51 billion KRW will be invested to carry out four major projects.

Mayor Seong Jang-hyun stated, “As I conclude my 12-year term, the most rewarding achievement is that we found Yongsan’s 100-year future value in history and culture,” and pledged, “Until my last day in office, I will devote myself to enhancing Yongsan’s competitiveness as a city of historical and cultural tourism.”