'New Right Controversy' Spreads... Kim Gu's Great-Grandson Says "Yongsan Itself Is a Spy"

Aftermath of Kim Hyung-seok's Appointment as Director of the Independence Hall
Gwangbokhoe Demands "Withdrawal of Director Kim's Appointment"

The government’s decision to push through the appointment of Kim Hyung-seok as director of the Independence Hall, who has been embroiled in the so-called New Right controversy, is causing an uncontrollable backlash. Criticism from the opposition parties, the Liberation Association composed of descendants of independence activists, and civic groups is collectively directed at the Presidential Office, which has been appointing figures with ‘New Right’ tendencies to key national institutions.

Amid controversy over the New Right-leaning stance, the appointment of Kim Hyung-seok as the new director of the Independence Hall has sparked outrage among the Korea Liberation Association and independence movement-related organizations, with Lee Jong-chan, president of the Korea Liberation Association, and others declaring they will not attend the government-hosted Liberation Day event. On the morning of the 12th, the Independence Hall of Fame and achievements of this month's independence activists are exhibited at the Korea Liberation Association Hall in Yeouido, Seoul. Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@

Kim Yong-man, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea and great-grandson of Baekbeom Kim Gu, appeared on the YouTube channel ‘Kim Eo-jun’s Humility is Difficult News Factory’ on the 12th and directly questioned, "Is Yongsan (the Presidential Office) itself a spy?"

Regarding Lee Jong-chan, president of the Liberation Association, who previously demanded the withdrawal of Kim’s appointment and criticized the Presidential Office by saying, "Is there a shadow of a spy from the Japanese colonial era in Yongsan?" Kim said, "That was a softened and indirect way of expressing it."

Kim stated, "The Yoon Seok-yeol administration continues to deny the illegality and illegitimacy of Japan’s colonial invasion while glorifying pro-Japanese acts," and pointed out, "In 2024, new pro-Japanese acts such as the registration of Sado Mine as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site are being created."

He added, "Since the early days of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, appointments that defy common sense have been made little by little, such as Professor Kim Nak-nyeon of Dongguk University as head of the Central Research Institute and Professor Heo Dong-hyun of Kyung Hee University as chairman of the National Institute of Korean History, culminating in the recent appointment of Kim Hyung-seok as director of the Independence Hall," emphasizing, "If they intend to change the Independence Hall into a Foundation Hall and even alter the identity of the Republic of Korea, it is now time to check them."

On the same day, Park Chan-dae, acting leader and floor leader of the Democratic Party, said at the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, "President Yoon should immediately withdraw Kim’s appointment so as not to be ashamed before the independence martyrs and apologize to the people for the reckless personnel decision," adding, "If this is not accepted, we will take extraordinary measures to set the history of the Republic of Korea straight and uphold the spirit of the Constitution."

Supreme Council member Jeong Cheong-rae criticized, "Is the Yoon Seok-yeol administration the Japanese government or the Korean government?" He said, "The pro-Japanese acts shown by the Yoon government regarding forced labor, Japanese military comfort women, Dokdo sovereignty, and Sado Mine have long crossed the line, but extreme anger exploded over this appointment of the Independence Hall director. Is the Yoon administration colluding with Japan in line with Japan’s historical distortion?"

The Democratic Party plans to hold a rally condemning Kim’s appointment in front of the Independence Hall on the 14th. They also plan to jointly propose a resolution with the National Innovation Party calling for the withdrawal of Kim’s appointment.

Meanwhile, in protest against the appointment of the Independence Hall director, the Liberation Association has declared it will not attend the Liberation Day celebration ceremony, and other independence activist organizations have also announced their intention to abstain. This is the first time that organizations of independence merit recipients have decided to boycott the government’s official Liberation Day event.