Independence Army Experience Involves Water Gun Attack on Policeman? ... Event Canceled Amid Anti-Japan Promotion Controversy

Seodaemun Independence Festival, Water Gun Shooting Event for Elementary Students
Controversy Leads to Replacement of 'Executioner' with 'Park Shooting'

To commemorate Liberation Day, Seodaemun-gu in Seoul planned an event where participants would shoot water guns at event staff dressed in Japanese police uniforms, but the event was ultimately canceled amid controversy over promoting anti-Japanese sentiment.

From the 13th, Seodaemun-gu held the "2024 Seodaemun Independence Festival" for three days at the Seodaemun Prison History Hall and Seodaemun Independence Park. This festival, held annually since 2010, aims to share the joy of liberation and the value of independence. Originally, the event program included an "Independence Army Combat Experience." This experience was scheduled to take place four times on the 14th and 15th in the square in front of the Yeoksa annex warehouse, where 60 children in first grade or above who made prior reservations would shoot water guns at Japanese police officers. The event became a hot topic on online communities, and reservations were fully booked on the first day. Ten part-time workers were hired to play the role of police officers.

Children are shooting water guns at a Japanese police officer during the Seodaemun Independence Festival held last year.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

However, once the event details became known, heated debates ensued online. While some responded positively, calling it a "fresh plan that cools off the summer heat while providing historical education," others criticized it as "educationally inappropriate because it only instills anti-Japanese sentiment, hatred, and hostility in children," "making the once brutal Japanese police appear as playmates for children," and "no different from North Korean children aiming toy guns at U.S. soldiers."

Amid these controversies, Seodaemun-gu abruptly canceled the event on the 14th. The program was replaced with one where children shoot water guns to burst balloons without involving police officers. Last year, safety staff dressed in Japanese police uniforms played "Mugunghwa Flower Has Bloomed" with children before bursting balloons with water guns. Also, last year, safety staff wore props such as model guns and knives along with the Japanese police uniforms, but this year, they only wore the police uniforms.