"Cancel the Removal of Hong Beom-do's Bust"…Protest Rallies in Seoul and Gwangju

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 17th, the day marking the founding of the Liberation Army, the Research Institute of Korean Ethnic Issues and the Shinheung Military Academy Memorial Association held a rally and walking event at 2 p.m. in front of the Lee Hoe-yeong Memorial Hall in Yejang-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, protesting the removal and relocation of busts of independence activists.

About 200 participants wore paper masks depicting the faces of Generals Kim Jwa-jin, Ji Cheong-cheon, Lee Beom-seok, Hong Beom-do, and Lee Hoe-yeong, the founder of Shinheung Military Academy, shouting slogans such as "Cancel the removal of the busts of independence war heroes" and "Resign the Minister of National Defense leading the bust removals."

After the rally, they marched holding placards with phrases like "We who walk together are independence fighters" and "The independence war is not over yet," proceeding along Namsan Gukchi-gil and Sungnyemun to the War Memorial in Yongsan-gu.

On the same day, the Gwangju branch of the Hong Beom-do General Memorial Association also stated, "We oppose the removal of the bust of General Hong Beom-do, who fought against Japanese imperialism as an independence army when the country was in crisis."

The organization held a press conference at Hong Beom-do Park (Damoa Children's Park) in Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, with about 40 citizens participating, saying, "Removing the bust of the anti-Japanese independence war hero who achieved remarkable victories in the Battles of Bongodong and Cheongsanri from inside the Korea Military Academy campus is an act that damages the identity of the Republic of Korea."

They added, "The military exists to protect the people and defend the country from enemies, and this must not be forgotten," appealing, "Please join the signature campaign to cancel the bust removals in opposition to forces that deny and distort history."

The Korea Military Academy recently decided to remove the bust of Hong Beom-do and relocate it outside the school, and to move the busts of Kim Jwa-jin, Ji Cheong-cheon, Lee Beom-seok, and Lee Hoe-yeong to other locations within the campus.