Lack of Exhibits, Broken Interactive Facilities, and Absence of Amenities Fuel Visitor Disappointment
There are concerns that the Gongju Independence Movement Memorial Hall, established to honor the spirit of anti-Japanese independence in Gongju, South Chungcheong Province, is failing to fulfill its intended role due to inadequate exhibitions and a lack of basic facilities. Critics argue that the memorial hall, which should convey the history and significance of the independence movement, has been reduced to little more than a space that exists in name only.
According to a comprehensive report by The Asia Business Daily on December 29, the Gongju Independence Movement Memorial Hall was established on March 1, 2022, at the main gate of Yeongmyeong School, which was the center of the Gongju March 1st Movement and the spirit of independence, to shed light on the many independence activists from Gongju and lesser-known anti-Japanese activities in the region.
Since its opening, the memorial hall has attracted youth and student groups, Christian organizations, and members of the Liberation Association from all over the country, raising expectations as a representative historical tourist site in Gongju.
However, the interior space of the memorial hall is excessively small, resulting in a severe shortage of exhibits, and it is difficult to find displays that allow for a multi-dimensional understanding of the flow of the independence movement and its key figures. Critics point out that the panel-based exhibitions are clearly limited in their ability to fully capture the history of Gongju's resistance against Japanese rule.
Interactive exhibitions have effectively come to a halt. Many electronic and experiential facilities, such as exhibition monitors, cameras, and traditional costume experiences, are either broken or do not function properly due to poor internet connectivity. Many visitors, expecting an interactive memorial hall, leave disappointed after encountering non-operational exhibits.
In particular, the absence of basic amenities such as restrooms is causing inconvenience for family visitors accompanied by elderly people or children.
A visitor in his 50s from the western district of Cheonan, who visited the memorial hall with his family over the weekend, said, "I expected exhibitions worthy of a memorial hall dedicated to independence, but there was very little to see. Without restrooms, visitors who bring elderly people or children have no choice but to feel uncomfortable."
Some point out that these issues were foreseeable from the very beginning.
At the time of the memorial hall's construction, there was insufficient review of the exhibition planning and facility design, as well as a lack of consideration for the depth of exhibition content, visitor flow, and the provision of amenities.
As a result, the memorial hall, which should embody both historical symbolism and educational function, has inevitably been reduced to a space that is merely formal in nature.
An official from the memorial hall stated, "We will improve the facilities so that visitors from across the country can be moved and develop a sense of fondness and affection for Gongju."
The official added, "It is true that from the time of its construction in 2022, the exhibition content and methods were simple, and many electronic facilities were either non-functional from the start or poorly made. We take seriously the negative impression left on visitors and will pursue comprehensive repairs and improvements."
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