Y6 Party to Skip Government-Hosted Liberation Day Ceremony Tomorrow
Democratic Party: "Pro-Japanese Forces Even Control Independence Hall Director"
People Power Party: "Pro-Japanese Frame... Diminishing Liberation Day's Meaning"
Ahead of the 79th anniversary of Liberation Day, the ruling and opposition parties have split. The opposition parties, including the Democratic Party of Korea, will not attend the government-hosted Liberation Day celebration and will instead participate in a separate event hosted by the Liberation Association. They are demanding the withdrawal of the appointment of Kim Hyung-seok as the new director of the Independence Hall.
On the morning of the 14th, the Democratic Party, along with the Party for National Innovation, the Progressive Party, and the Social Democratic Party, held a press conference with civil society in front of the main stairs of the National Assembly building titled "Condemning the Yoon Seok-yeol Administration's Humiliating Diplomacy on the 79th Liberation Day." Park Chan-dae, acting leader and floor leader of the Democratic Party, stated at the conference, "The Yoon administration has persistently maintained pro-Japanese actions throughout its term," adding, "The Independence Hall was opened with the blood-like donations of the people, yet even the director of the Independence Hall has been taken over by pro-Japanese forces." He emphasized, "All responsibility for the confusion and division lies with President Yoon."
The Democratic Party of Korea, the Party for Justice and Innovation, the Progressive Party, and the Social Democratic Party held a press conference on the 14th at the National Assembly with civil society to condemn the "humiliating diplomacy of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration." / Photo by Oh Ji-eun joy@
Six opposition parties, including the Democratic Party, claim that Director Kim is a 'New Right' figure. The opposition parties express concern that Kim does not recognize the legitimacy of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea and is attempting to establish August 15, 1948, as the founding day of the nation, based on statements he made in past lectures. Consequently, except for the Reform New Party, other opposition parties have declared they will not attend the government-hosted celebration. The Reform New Party stated, "Separately from the inappropriateness of the appointment, we wish to respect the significance of the national event celebrating liberation from Japanese colonial rule and the establishment of a government that inherited the legal continuity of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea."
The Democratic Party will attend the Liberation Day ceremony hosted by the Liberation Association on the 15th at the Baekbeom Kim Gu Memorial Hall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Although the Liberation Association announced that it would not invite political parties or politicians, lawmakers plan to attend independently.
The controversy surrounding Director Kim began on the 7th when the Liberation Association (Chairman Lee Jong-chan) opposed his appointment. On that day, Chairman Lee appeared on CBS Radio and claimed, "(Director Kim) is conducting a massive effort to deify President Rhee Syngman while simultaneously attempting to portray Baekbeom Kim Gu as a terrorist."
Kim Hyung-seok, Director of the Independence Hall, is answering questions from the press on the morning of the 14th at the Gyereneuri Hall of the Independence Hall in Cheonan, Chungnam. [Photo by Yonhap News]
In response, Director Kim appeared on MBC Radio and said, "The Liberation Association labels all citizens who support President Rhee Syngman as New Right and pro-Japanese collaborators, creating a formula that is dividing public opinion." He added, "I am concerned that without reconciliation and mutual respect between those who follow Kim Gu and those who follow President Rhee, the future of the Republic of Korea is at risk." He also explained, "I view August 15, 1948, not as our starting point but as the completion of our nation."
Kwok Kyu-taek, chief spokesperson for the People Power Party, commented on the same day, saying, "This year's Liberation Day celebration is at risk of being divided into two for the first time in history." He criticized the Liberation Association chairman for demanding the withdrawal of the establishment of the 'Founding Day,' which the current government is not pursuing, and for attempting to enforce his will on personnel matters, which are the exclusive prerogative of the president, calling it an excessive act. Furthermore, he said, "The Democratic Party is irresponsibly continuing a political offensive by framing our government as pro-Japanese, which neither helps national interests nor does anything but diminish the meaning of Liberation Day."
Kwok emphasized, "We must never allow the venue for national unity and celebration to be transformed into a stage for division and conflict," urging "the Liberation Association and opposition parties to make a magnanimous decision and show a Liberation Day worthy of the occasion."
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