Will a 'Second Gwangbokhoe' Be Created? [Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club]

Seventeen Public Corporations Designated by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs
Resistance Expected from Gwangbokhoe over Additional Designations

It is expected to take time for the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs to designate additional public legal entities related to the independence movement. This is because the passage of related bills is uncertain due to opposition from opposition parties, and resistance from the Kwangbokhoe is also expected to be considerable.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 23rd, a government official said, "It is true that the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs has been reviewing the additional designation of public legal entities, but there are various issues to discuss, so it will take a long time."

Public legal entities are divided into the independence, patriotic, and democratic sectors, with a total of 17 organizations. There are 10 patriotic and 6 democratic organizations listed, but only one in the independence sector, the Kwangbokhoe. Founded in 1965 by independence patriots and their descendants, the Kwangbokhoe was designated as a public legal entity in 1973. The Kwangbokhoe receives about 3 billion won annually in government support funds.

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs stated that ahead of the 80th anniversary of liberation next year, the proportion and support for public legal entities in the independence sector are low, and there have been continuous complaints about additional designations, so review is necessary. However, in connection with recent issues, there is an analysis that the intention might be to eliminate the Kwangbokhoe's "monopolistic position." The Kwangbokhoe refused to attend the government's Liberation Day celebration due to the appointment of Kim Hyung-seok as the new director of the Independence Hall.

The Kwangbokhoe did not attend the government-hosted Liberation Day ceremony on the 15th and held a separate event. The organization that the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs is considering for additional public legal entity designation is the Association of Bereaved Families of Patriots. During the Liberation Day ceremony, Lee Dong-il, chairman of the Association of Bereaved Families of Patriots, delivered the commemorative speech in place of Lee Jong-chan, chairman of the Kwangbokhoe. Other organizations mentioned include the March 1st Movement Memorial Association and the bereaved families of fallen military personnel.

For the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs to designate additional public legal entities, amendments to related laws such as the Act on Organizations of Persons of Distinguished Services to the State are necessary. Opposition from opposition parties is expected. The bill to designate the Association of Bereaved Families of Patriots as a public legal entity was also proposed and discarded in the 21st National Assembly. The existing Kwangbokhoe is also expected to oppose this. The Kwangbokhoe's position is that "it only divides the descendants of independence activists and divides the people."

However, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs denied concerns about cuts to the Kwangbokhoe's funding. The ministry stated, "The budget for support funds for public legal entities is not fixed in total amount, so the Kwangbokhoe's budget will not be cut."

Some express concerns that if additional public legal entities are designated, conflicts over support funds are expected. The 5·18 participants, who united against martial law troops for democratization, have now fractured like shattered glass after 44 years. Internal conflicts within the 5·18 organizations escalated into disputes just two years after their transition to public legal entities, eventually leading to mutual lawsuits and accusations.

The three 5·18 organizations (Injured Persons Association, Meritorious Persons Association, Bereaved Families Association), which started as incorporated associations formed by 5·18 participants, were converted into public legal entities in 2022, enabling them to operate with subsidies. Unlike the past when they faced financial difficulties relying on members' donations, they now receive 30 to 40 million won annually in government subsidies and can also conduct their own revenue-generating activities, which has somewhat improved their situation.

However, the small amount of funds brought disaster. A power struggle broke out over the positions of the president and other executive members who have the authority to decide on the use of subsidies, and even afterward, differences in opinions could not be reconciled, causing divisions among members.