Teacher Who Refused Yoon’s Medal Receives President Lee’s Medal, Says He Has Mixed Emotions

"Received Medal with President Lee's Name Instead of Yoon, the Ringleader of Rebellion"
Refused the Green Stripes Order of Service Merit at the End of 2023

Medal awarded by Kil Junyong, former principal of Buseong Middle School in Seosan. Facebook capture

It has been reported that President Lee Jaemyung re-awarded a medal to a former teacher who had previously refused a decoration from former President Yoon Suk-yeol.

Recently, Kil Junyong, former principal of Seosan Buseong Middle School, announced on his social networking service (SNS) that "I have received the Order of Service Merit, which I refused upon my retirement three years ago, from the Chungnam Office of Education."

Previously, at the end of February 2023, former Principal Kil had refused to accept the Green Stripes Order of Service Merit awarded by the government. The Green Stripes Order of Service Merit is presented to public officials and teachers who have contributed to national and societal development.

Subsequently, President Lee Jaemyung instructed the Ministry of the Interior and Safety during a cabinet meeting in July last year to conduct a full review of those who had refused medals from former President Yoon, and to examine whether the medals could be re-awarded. As a result, former Principal Kil was able to receive the medal he had previously turned down.

In an interview with 'Kim Eojun's News Factory,' he explained the reasons for his refusal, stating, "With less than a year in office, considering incidents like the 'Biden-Nallimyeon' controversy, the 10·29 Itaewon disaster, and the actions of Kim Keonhee and those around former President Yoon, I thought it was an administration that simply should not exist."

It is known that in the statement of renunciation submitted to the government, he wrote that he "could not accept the inclusion of the three names on the medal certificate." At the time, the medal certificate listed the names of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, former Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, and former Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sangmin.

Upon receiving the medal bearing President Lee Jaemyung's name, former Principal Kil expressed his feelings, saying, "I have received the Order of Service Merit from the Chungnam Office of Education, which I refused upon retiring three years ago. Now, having received a certificate bearing President Lee Jaemyung's name instead of Yoon Suk-yeol, the ringleader of rebellion, I have mixed emotions." He added, "I thank President Lee Jaemyung for remembering my refusal of the medal and for promoting the re-awarding after coming to power, and I wish him success."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.