[The Editors' Verdict] A Country Where Only Lim Youngwoong Is a Hero

South Korea's Reluctance to Create Heroes
Why the Nation Struggles to Embrace Its Own Icons
Political and Ideological Divides Hinder Hero-Making

How many people in South Korea can be considered 'heroes' across all ages and genders without causing significant ideological or political conflicts? Apart from a few, such as King Sejong of the Joseon Dynasty and Admiral Yi Sun-sin at Gwanghwamun Square, and the patriotic hero An Jung-geun from the Japanese colonial period, there are very few who can be counted on one hand.

South Korea is stingy when it comes to creating heroes. Compared to Western countries, its history is short, and having gone through the Japanese colonial period and the division of North and South Korea accompanied by ideological and political conflicts, it is an environment where it is difficult to elevate one person as a hero. Even those who might be called heroes on one side are often villains on the other, resulting in mostly half heroes.

Syngman Rhee, the first president, currently stands somewhere between hero and villain in South Korea. He appears in elementary school textbooks and biographies, but aside from being the first president, most content relates to dictatorship and corruption linked to the fraudulent March 15 election. This is why politicians say, "Although he laid the foundation for the Republic of Korea, history has highlighted only his political mistakes."

Ahead of the April general election, attempts to re-evaluate Syngman Rhee, mainly by the ruling party, are underway following the release of the documentary film "The Founding War." Riding this wave, Seoul City is considering building a Syngman Rhee Memorial Hall at the Open Songhyeon Green Plaza next to Gyeongbokgung Palace. The committee promoting the construction argues that historical figures inevitably have both merits and demerits, and through the memorial hall, they want to address these objectively and balancedly so that future generations can understand. However, the process is fraught with difficulties. Controversies over "glorifying Syngman Rhee" and "distorting history" are intense.

In the same context, no president in South Korea's political history, including the first president, has ever been called a 'hero.' Former President Park Chung-hee laid the foundation for economic development but is not called a hero due to the faults of the Yushin dictatorship. Former President Kim Dae-jung, the first Korean Nobel Peace Prize laureate, also failed to become a hero because opinions about him vary. Even former presidents Chun Doo-hwan, Roh Tae-woo, Lee Myung-bak, and Park Geun-hye were imprisoned.

Given the current atmosphere, it will be difficult for heroes to emerge in South Korea in the future. It would be fortunate if at least a president who does not end up in prison appears. While excessive patriotism and nationalism, often called 'gukppong,' are dangerous, the social atmosphere that makes hero-making difficult is problematic. Because of the stinginess toward heroes, pride in both our history and present is inevitably weak. It is no wonder that extreme neologisms like 'Hell Joseon' have emerged among the younger generation.

In this sense, the recent politically charged films are welcome. The heated debates surrounding them are also something to be welcomed. At least through films, which are a medium with wide public reach, an opportunity has been given to think about South Korea's past, present, and future. Especially for the younger generation living in an era where history has become an unpopular subject, it is a chance to gain a new perspective on the world.

Interpretation is up to the audience. The public's level of awareness is not so low as to accept politically biased content at face value. We hope to see more films that re-examine politics and history from diverse perspectives.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.