This year’s ceremony to mark the anniversary of Korea’s independence from Japan’s 36-year colonial rule will vividly illustrate the deep and unjust divisions that have affected the nation.

The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and five minor parties vowed to boycott the event to protest President Yoon Suk Yeol’s appointment of a figure they consider controversial as the head of the Independence Hall of Korea.

The boycott movement gained widespread attention after the Heritage of Korean Independence (HKI), a non-profit organization composed of descendants of independence fighters, announced they would not attend the 79th anniversary event commemorating Korea’s independence from Japan scheduled for Thursday. Instead, they pledged to hold their own separate commemoration.

The nation is divided not only by political ideology but also by an escalating historical dispute regarding the year of Korea’s founding.

Two competing perspectives exist regarding the founding of Korea. One view holds that Ko
rea was founded on April 11, 1919, the day the Korean Provisional Government, a government in exile during Japanese colonial rule, was established in China. In contrast, some right-wing activists propose August 15, 1948, as the founding date. They argue that this date marks Korea’s transition to self-rule when it took over government functions from the U.S. Army Military Government.

The issue has become a political football after Lee Jong-chan, 88, leader of the Heritage of Korean Independence, called on the president to clarify his position. The HKI has alleged that the Yoon administration plans to designate 1948 as the year of Korea’s founding, a move they argue would be unacceptable if true. Government officials, however, have denied these claims.

The historical dispute has strained their relationships.

Lee was once Yoon’s mentor and encouraged the former prosecutor-general to run in the presidential election. They have known each other for several decades because Lee is the father of the president’s lo
ng-time friend, Lee Cheol-woo, a professor of law at Yonsei University.

Yoon appointed the elder Lee as president of the HKI after he was inaugurated in May 2022.

Their relations began to show signs of strain after Lee criticized the Yoon administration’s plan to move the bust of independence fighter Hong Beom-do from the Korea Military Academy. This move came in response to allegations that Hong had once been associated with the Soviet Union’s Communist Party. As a descendant of an independence fighter himself, Lee defended Hong, asserting that the bust should remain in its current location and dismissing the allegations as unfounded.

The two sides clashed again after Yoon filled the leadership posts of two state-run institutions: the Independence Hall of Korea and The Academy of Korean Studies, with right-wing figures. Kim Nak-yeon, a professor emeritus of Dongguk University who conducted several research projects about economic growth during the Japanese colonial period, was appointed as president of Th
e Academy of Korean Studies in late July, which was followed by historian Kim Hyung-seok’s ascension to president of the Independence Hall of Korea earlier in August. Accusing the two Kims of being far-right figures who sympathize with Japan’s right wing, Lee pressured the president to scrap his decisions.

Yoon appeared to have felt uncomfortable about such criticism.

In a private meeting with his aides, the president reportedly expressed frustration over what he described as politically motivated accusations. He questioned the timing of these allegations and their relevance, wondering how they would contribute to improving the public’s well-being.

The president faces criticism over his perceived strained relations with Lee, largely due to his controversial appointments. Leadership positions at state-run institutions, such as the Independence Hall of Korea and the Academy of Korean Studies, should be filled by qualified individuals with proven expertise and balanced perspectives. The two individuals recent
ly appointed by Yoon, both named Kim, have sparked controversy. To avoid backlash, the president must exercise greater care in his selection process, ensuring that his appointments are well-considered and less likely to provoke dispute.

However, Lee also bears some responsibility for the nation’s division. The Liberation Day anniversary is a pivotal event, especially for his organization, which consists of descendants of independence fighters. Rather than intensifying his criticism of the president, Lee should focus on finding a solution that ensures the event can proceed successfully and fulfill its significant role.

By boycotting the 79th-anniversary ceremony, he will become the first HKI leader to miss this important event.

It’s time to rekindle the spirit of the independence movement, which was fundamentally about celebrating Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonization. All independence fighters were united by this singular goal, working tirelessly to mobilize every available resource to achieve it.
Today, however, Koreans seem to be losing this sense of urgency and unity. Instead of moving forward together, the nation has become mired in division and mutual blame, neglecting to consider their own responsibilities in the current state of affairs.

Source: Yonhap News Agency