'New Right Independence Hall?' New 'Memorial Hall' to Be Established in Seoul

Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs to Promote 80th Liberation Anniversary Next Year
Target Completion in 2027... Candidate Sites Under Review in Seoul

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs announced on the 28th that it plans to establish a new Independence Movement Memorial Hall called the 'Domestic National Independence Movement Memorial Hall (tentative name)' in Seoul, separate from the Independence Hall in Cheonan, Chungnam, to mark the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day next year.

The Ministry plans to build the memorial hall by 2027 with a total budget of 24.5 billion KRW, featuring content covering various educational, cultural, enlightenment, and student movements that took place domestically. Candidate sites within Seoul are currently under review.

The Ministry explained that existing independence movement memorial halls mainly focus on overseas armed struggles and prominent figures, making them insufficient to convey the diverse forms of independence movements. It also noted that there has been ongoing demand for establishing an independence movement memorial hall in the metropolitan area to make it more accessible to the public.

Chungnam Cheonan Independence Hall. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

President Yoon Suk-yeol's March 1st Independence Movement Day commemorative speech also appears to have influenced the establishment of the new memorial hall. In his speech, President Yoon emphasized that not only armed independence movements but also other forms of independence movements should receive proper recognition, and he referred to independence activists active in diplomacy, education, and culture as 'forerunners' and 'practitioners.'

Some have expressed concerns that the new memorial hall might be an attempt to create a 'New Right Independence Memorial Hall.' In response, a Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs official stated, "That is a one-sided claim," adding, "This project is being promoted to widely inform the public about various independence movements and to pass on the spirit of independence to future generations." The official also added, "There will be no shrinkage of existing independence movement memorial halls due to the construction of the new memorial hall."