Gyeonggi Council Democratic Party: "We Will Fight Against Yoon Seok-yeol Administration's Pro-Japanese Actions"

"Appointing a Pro-Japanese Colonial Rule Figure as Director of the Independence Hall Insults the History of the Independence Movement and Kills Independence Activists Twice"

The spokesperson group of the Democratic Party of Korea in the Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly is issuing a statement on the 8th.

The Democratic Party of Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly issued a statement condemning the appointment of Kim Hyung-seok, a distinguished professor at Kosin University who made remarks justifying Japanese colonial rule, as the director of the Independence Hall, which was built with the people's donations. They stated that this act insults our independence movement and vowed to strongly oppose the Yoon Seok-yeol administration.

In the statement released on the 8th, the Democratic Party criticized, "The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs appointed Kim Hyung-seok, a New Right figure and distinguished professor at Kosin University, as the new director of the Independence Hall after receiving approval from President Yoon Seok-yeol past 10 p.m. on the 6th."

They added, "Director Kim has claimed that the Republic of Korea was not founded in 1919 with the Provisional Government but in 1948," and "During the candidate interview, he justified Japanese colonial rule by stating that 'during the Japanese occupation, there was no country, so our people at that time were Japanese subjects.'"

Furthermore, they stated, "He also unabashedly uttered outrageous remarks that the pro-Japanese actions of some individuals should not be equated with anti-national acts but should be judged based on historical merits and demerits."

The Democratic Party therefore said, "Appointing a person who justifies Japanese colonial rule as the director of the Independence Hall, a sacred symbol of the independence movement, insults the history of our nation's independence movement and is tantamount to killing independence activists twice," lamenting, "No wonder Lee Jong-chan, chairman of the Liberation Association, lamented while striking his chest, 'Is there not someone like a Japanese-era spy in Yongsan?'"

In particular, they pointed out, "The Yoon Seok-yeol administration has been criticized by the public for appointing New Right figures to various positions such as the Korea Central Research Institute, the Past Affairs Clearing Committee, and the Broadcasting Culture Promotion Agency," and declared, "The Democratic Party of Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly urges the immediate withdrawal of the appointment of the New Right figure as director of the Independence Hall and will strongly oppose the pro-Japanese acts that erase the national spirit under the Yoon Seok-yeol government."