"Creating Jeong Yul-seong Historical Park Is Equivalent to Building a Statue of Jeon Du-hwan at the May 18 Democratic Cemetery"

Press Conference by the Nationwide Citizens' Coalition for the Abolition of the Communist Jeong Yulseong Park Project on the 25th

"Urging the Abolition and Comprehensive Review of the Jeong Yulseong Project and the Preparation of Countermeasures"

The 'Citizens' Coalition for the Abolition of the Communist Jeong Yul-seong Park Project,' consisting of 13 civic groups including the May 18 Construction Law Group, held a press conference on the morning of the 25th, calling for the complete abolition of the Jeong Yul-seong Park project and urging a public hearing to devise alternative plans.

The Anti-Communist Jeong Yulseong Park Abolition Citizens' Coalition held a press conference on the morning of the 25th at the Citizens Communication Room of the Gwangju Metropolitan City Council in Seo-gu, Gwangju, claiming, "We have held a meeting with citizens' groups such as the Citizens' Coalition regarding the Jeong Yulseong memorial project, and the Jeong Yulseong Historical Park development and memorial project must be abolished."
[Photo by Min Hyunki]

The Citizens' Coalition for the Abolition of the Communist Jeong Yul-seong Park Project held a press conference on the morning of the 25th at the Citizens' Communication Room of the Gwangju Metropolitan City Council in Seo-gu, Gwangju, stating, "We have held meetings with civic groups such as the Citizens' Coalition regarding the Jeong Yul-seong memorial project and demand the abolition of the Jeong Yul-seong Historical Park construction and memorial project."

The group emphasized, "Commemorating Jeong Yul-seong, a communist who composed the military anthems of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the Korean People's Army, in the Republic of Korea, a liberal democratic country, is anachronistic. Opposing this is not an ideological conflict but a matter of common sense versus nonsense to correct the Republic of Korea."

They continued, "In 2018, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs under the Moon Jae-in administration reviewed Jeong Yul-seong for a national award but decided not to confer it," pointing out, "Although he advocated for independence movements during the Japanese colonial period, it was judged inappropriate to award him a medal of the Republic of Korea due to his communist activities after liberation."

The group added, "We requested a 'meeting' with Mayor Kang, but due to difficulties with ongoing tasks, he responded that a comprehensive plan would be established in the future," lamenting, "While patriotic organizations nationwide are putting up banners criticizing the erroneous administration of Gwangju Metropolitan City, is there any more important current task than this?"

A representative of the Citizens' Coalition for the Abolition of the Communist Jeong Yul-seong Park Project stated, "There should be no room for debate on whether to build the Jeong Yul-seong Memorial Park," and said, "Building the Jeong Yul-seong Memorial Park is equivalent to erecting a statue of Jeon Du-hwan in front of the May 18 Democratic Cemetery."