Controversy Reignites Over Jeon Du-hwan's Son's Ilhae Park Amid 'Spring in Seoul' Success

The Return of 12·12... Continued Since Renaming in 2007
Civic Group: "Park Made with Taxes... Outdated"
Hapcheon-gun: "Will Reflect After Public Discussion in First Half of Next Year"

The film "Spring in Seoul," depicting the December 12 military coup, has attracted 7 million viewers, leading to a renewed focus on modern history. Amid this atmosphere, calls to rename 'Ilhae Park' in Hapcheon County, Gyeongnam Province, have resurfaced.

According to Hapcheon County on the 12th, the park, which opened in 2004 under the name "New Millennium Forest of Life," was renamed Ilhae Park in 2007 after the pen name Ilhae (日海) of the late former President Chun Doo-hwan, who hails from Hapcheon, and has retained this name since.

Movie 'Seoul's Spring' Trailer
Photo by Plus M Entertainment

Ko Dong-ui, secretary of the civic group "Hapcheon County Movement Headquarters to Reclaim the Forest of Life" (hereafter Movement Headquarters), said, "Since the recent release of the film 'Spring in Seoul,' many people have expressed anger toward Chun Doo-hwan and the new military regime," adding, "It is anachronistic to keep a park funded by taxpayers under such a biased name."

He continued, "Since the renaming of Ilhae Park, there have been persistent demands from various sectors of society to change the name again, but nothing has changed," and emphasized, "This film ('Spring in Seoul') has furthered public discourse, and the name of Ilhae Park must be changed."

Controversy over Ilhae Park's name has persisted since its renaming. In 2007, when the name was changed, opposing views clashed across society, intensifying the debate. This controversy has continued for 16 years, with conflicting opinions between 'preservation' and 'change' preventing progress in renaming discussions.

In 2021, the Movement Headquarters collected signatures from about 1,500 residents to demonstrate strong local desire for renaming Ilhae Park and submitted a petition. In response, the county held a naming committee meeting in June to consider changing the name. However, the proposal to restore the name "New Millennium Forest of Life" was rejected as "inappropriate."

The county plans to gather residents' opinions through a public discourse process. A county official stated, "We plan to conduct a public discourse process in the first half of next year," adding, "We are reviewing ways to reflect residents' opinions on the name through a third-party organization or similar."

Meanwhile, memorial events honoring those who tried to prevent the military coup are being held in various locations. On the afternoon of the 12th, a memorial service for Sergeant Jeong Seon-yeop, who died from gunfire by the rebels while defending the Army Headquarters, will be held at the Jeong Seon-yeop Pine Tree Garden next to the Dongsin High School gymnasium in Buk-gu, Gwangju. The deceased was shot on-site after resisting the rebel forces who had occupied the Ministry of National Defense and tried to seize his rifle, insisting on following the official command chain.

Also on the same day, a memorial service for Lieutenant Colonel Kim O-rang, who died fighting alone against soldiers sent to arrest Special Forces Commander Jeong Byeong-ju during the rebellion, will be held in front of the Lieutenant Colonel Kim O-rang bust in Samjeong-dong, Gimhae. Lieutenant Colonel Kim was the real-life model for Major Oh Jin-ho, portrayed by actor Jung Hae-in in the film.