Independence Day Event Ultimately Split [Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club]

Government Celebration Ceremony and Independence Movement Organization Memorial Likely to Be Held Separately
Unprecedented Controversy Over Appointment of Kim Hyung-seok as Director of the Independence Hall

The 79th anniversary 8.15 Liberation Day event, which should be a venue for national unity, is expected to be split into a government-hosted celebration and a commemorative ceremony held by independence movement organizations due to the controversy over the appointment of Kim Hyeong-seok as the director of the Independence Hall. In protest against the appointment of Director Kim, who is embroiled in controversy as a 'New Right figure,' independence movement organizations including the Liberation Association have decided not to attend the government celebration and to hold a separate commemorative ceremony. Opposition parties such as the Democratic Party of Korea, which demand the withdrawal of Director Kim's appointment, also plan to attend the commemorative ceremony hosted by the independence movement organizations instead of the government-hosted celebration.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

It is unprecedented for the government-hosted celebration and the independence movement organizations' commemorative ceremony to be held separately on Liberation Day. On the 15th at 10 a.m., 37 independence movement organizations including the Liberation Association will hold a Liberation Day commemorative ceremony at the Baekbeom Memorial Hall within Hyochang Park, attended by members of the Liberation Association, families of independence activists, and members of related commemorative organizations and groups. The Liberation Association, which is leading the ceremony, has decided not to invite political parties or politicians but will not prevent voluntary attendance.

Lee Jong-chan, president of the Liberation Association, is expected to criticize the pro-Japanese biased policy stance of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration in his commemorative speech, and Han Si-jun, former director of the Independence Hall, will give a lecture on the theme of 'The 1948 Founding of the Nation and the Legalization of Colonial Rule,' according to sources. Separately, the Anti-Japanese Independence Patriots Promotion Group Federation (Hangdanyeon), composed of 25 organizations honoring independence activists, will hold a Liberation Day commemorative ceremony on the 15th afternoon at the Samuisa Burial Site within Hyochang Park together with civic groups such as the Institute for Korean Historical Studies. Hangdanyeon expects about 1,000 attendees, including members of the organizations and civic group officials. Opposition party figures such as those from the Democratic Party of Korea plan to attend the ceremony hosted by Hangdanyeon and deliver commemorative speeches. After the ceremony, participants also plan to march to the Yongsan Presidential Office.

The government-hosted Liberation Day celebration will also be held on the 15th, but some independence movement organizations, families of independence activists, and opposition parties are expected not to attend. Typically, about 2,000 people attend the government-hosted celebration, including invited politicians from ruling and opposition parties, government officials, independence movement organizations and families of independence activists, religious groups, and foreign diplomatic corps in Korea.

On the 14th, Lee Jong-chan, president of the Liberation Association, appeared on CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' and repeatedly called for Director Kim's resignation, saying, "The last door is still open. We hope the government will show sincerity," and "If the government says it will redo the wrong appointment (of the Independence Hall director), we will applaud." He expressed willingness to attend the government-hosted celebration if Director Kim resigns now and the government announces it will proceed with the procedure to select a new director of the Independence Hall.