Speaker Woo Wonsik: "The Roots of the Military Must Be Clearly Stated as the Independence Army and Liberation Army in the National Armed Forces Organization Act"

Luncheon Meeting with Organizations Honoring the Armed Independence Movement

National Assembly Speaker Woo Wonsik stated on the 14th, "It is now time to clearly establish our national identity by explicitly stating in the National Armed Forces Organization Act that the roots of our military lie in the Independence Army and the Liberation Army."

Speaker Woo Wonsik held a luncheon meeting on the 14th at the National Assembly Sarangjae, inviting armed independence movement promotion organizations such as the General Hong Beomdo Memorial Association, General Kim Jwajin Memorial Association, and Woo Dang Lee Hoeyoung Memorial Association, and took a commemorative photo. National Assembly Speaker's Office

On this day, Speaker Woo made these remarks during a luncheon meeting held at Sarangjae in the National Assembly, where he invited organizations promoting the armed independence movement, such as the General Hong Beomdo Memorial Association, the General Kim Jwajin Memorial Association, and the Woo Dang Lee Hoeyoung Memorial Association.

Speaker Woo said, "Over the past few years, there have been distressing incidents that denied our national identity, such as the announcement of plans to remove the busts of independence war heroes at the Korea Military Academy and the issue regarding the Sado Mine. However, after meeting with the superintendent of the Korea Military Academy last May and securing a decision to fully preserve the busts, we were able to uphold the spirit of the independence movement through the efforts of the people."

He continued, "We will strive to establish the correct national identity and ensure that the sacrifices of the independence fighters are remembered by our people."

In response, former lawmaker Kim Euldong, who serves as the chairperson of the General Kim Jwajin Memorial Association, said, "It is the duty of descendants to honor and uphold the spirit of our ancestors who fought solely for the liberation of our homeland until the time of independence," and added, "We will make every effort to become descendants who inherit and honor the will and ideology of the independence patriots, without disparaging their legacy."

The luncheon menu prepared by Speaker Woo included kimchi stew, which Kim Gu, a key figure of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, often ate under difficult circumstances, bamboo leaf rice balls that were eaten while evading Japanese oppression for five years, and misutgaru drinks known as combat rations for the independence army. According to Speaker Woo's office, the menu was chosen to commemorate the 80th anniversary of liberation and the independence movement.

Attendees at the luncheon meeting included Speaker Woo, former lawmaker Kim Euldong, former National Assembly member Lee Jonggeol, who is the chairperson of the Woo Dang Lee Hoeyoung Memorial Association, Lee Hangjeung, co-representative of the Shinheung Military Academy Memorial Association, Park Deokjin, representative of the Citizens' Group for Independence, and Jung Youngsoon, president of the Korean Koryoin Association. From the National Assembly, lawmaker Song Okju, great-granddaughter of independence activist Cha Byeonghyeok, and lawmaker Han Byungdo, grandson of independence activist Han Inseok, were also present.