"Both New Right and Gwangbokhoe Are Wrong"
Amid ongoing debates about whether the founding of the Republic of Korea should be considered as August 15, 1948, when the only legitimate government on the Korean Peninsula was established, or April 11, 1919, when the Provisional Government was launched in Shanghai (Shanghai, China) under Japanese colonial rule, Shin Pyeong, a lawyer regarded as a 'pro-Yoon' figure, has presented a new perspective. He claims that the founding of the Republic of Korea dates back to being established by Grandfather Dangun.
On the 22nd, Lawyer Shin wrote on Facebook, "The interpretation of law is, above all else, almost always correct when it aligns with the 'common sense' that any ordinary person possesses," adding, "Although it may be a mythologized consciousness, it is at least in line with our common sense to see our country as founded by Grandfather Dangun long ago. Therefore, the 'National Foundation Day' established by seizing upon that myth is precisely the 'Founding Day'."
He viewed both the politically contentious perspectives?the founding as the 1919 Provisional Government establishment and the 1948 Republic of Korea government establishment?as flawed.
Regarding the claim by Lee Jong-chan, president of the Liberation Association, that the founding should be seen as the March 1st Movement and the establishment of the Provisional Government in 1919, Shin pointed out, "The idea that sovereignty was restored across the entire Korean Peninsula with the establishment of the Provisional Government greatly deviates from our general understanding." He said, "'Founding,' meaning 'establishing a country,' is being misunderstood. From a constitutional law perspective, the three main elements of a country are first sovereignty, second the people, and third territory. Lee Jong-chan's claim is that sovereignty was restored across the entire Korean Peninsula with the establishment of the Provisional Government, but this greatly contradicts our common sense." He added, "During Japanese colonial rule (Wijeong), everyone was considered 'people who lost their country.' This statement acknowledges the fact that the nation's sovereignty was seized by Japan and transferred to them."
Shin also criticized the New Right camp's claim that the founding point is the establishment of the Republic of Korea government in 1948, describing it as "a severe insult to our history." He said, "It is an idea aimed at downgrading Korea from a civilized nation to a newly born country." He continued, "Everyone has lived with the notion that we are a people with a brilliant history spanning over five thousand years, even if the fiction of a single ethnic nation is pointed out. The Joseon Dynasty and the Goryeo Dynasty were all our countries. No one doubts this."
He then argued that 'National Foundation Day' (Gaecheonjeol) should be regarded as the true Founding Day. He stated, "Although it may be a mythologized consciousness, it is at least in line with our common sense to see our country as founded by Grandfather Dangun long ago. It has been correct to commemorate August 15, 1945, the day Japan was defeated, as 'Liberation Day' (Gwangbokjeol), and August 15, 1948, as 'Government Establishment Day' according to the common sense we have held so far," urging that this fruitless debate must now come to an end.
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