Former NIS Director Lee Jong-chan: "Must Resist Pro-Japanese Colonial Historical View and Historical Distortion"

Lecture on 'Speaking of 100 Years of the Republic of Korea' in Damyang

Former National Intelligence Service Director Lee Jong-chan delivered a lecture titled "Speaking of 100 Years of the Republic of Korea" at the 182nd 21st Century Damyang Forum on the 29th.

The event, held at the Damyang Cultural Center in Damyang County, Jeollanam-do, was attended by about 600 people, including residents and members of social organizations.

Former National Intelligence Service Director Lee Jong-chan is giving a lecture titled "Speaking about 100 Years of the Republic of Korea" at the 182nd 21st Century Damyang Forum on the 29th. Photo by Park Jin-hyung

At the event, Director Lee emphasized, "A nation that has lost its territory can be revived if it knows its history," adding, "However, a nation that has lost its history cannot be revived."

He highlighted the importance of a clear historical awareness by citing Zionism, the spirit behind the rebuilding of Israel.

Zionism refers to the nationalist movement aimed at establishing a nation-state in the land of Palestine, the ancestral homeland, by Jews scattered around the world.

In contrast, he mentioned that the Kurds, numbering 35 million, have lost their roots and live scattered across Iran, Iraq, and Syria, unable to find their own country.

Comparing the two cases, Director Lee reiterated the meaning that "if history is forgotten, a nation cannot be revived."

He then brought attention to the distortion of Korean history through pro-Japanese colonial historiography and the New Right historical perspective.

He stated, "The Japanese Governor-General's Office tried to erase the brilliant records of the Republic of Korea, which has a history spanning five thousand years," and added, "The Governor-General's Joseon History Compilation Committee described the history of Dangun as mere myth."

He also explained, "The first thing independence activists did while fighting against Japanese imperialism was not with guns and swords but by holding history books," and noted, "Through the school anthem of the Shinheung Military Academy, the Declaration of Independence of Korea, the February 8th Declaration of Independence, the March 1st Declaration of Independence, and the Provisional Government’s decision to commemorate October 3rd as the founding day, our ancestors took pride in being a cultured nation with a history spanning five thousand years."

Finally, he conveyed three key points: ▲ The founding date of the Korean nation, October 3rd, 4355 Dangi (Korean calendar) ▲ The name of the Republic of Korea was decided as a democratic republic on April 11, 1919 ▲ The Republic of Korea government was officially established on August 15, 1948.

Director Lee graduated from the Korea Military Academy as part of the 16th class and was commissioned as an army second lieutenant. He entered politics in 1981 as the 11th National Assembly member and served four terms.

He served as the first director of the National Intelligence Service under the Kim Dae-jung administration and currently serves as chairman of the Udang Education and Culture Foundation, which honors the life of his grandfather and independence activist, Udang Lee Hoe-young.