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| Busts of five Korean independence fighters are seen during an unveiling ceremony at the Korean Military Academy in Seoul in this 2018 file photo. Korea Times file |
By Lee Hyo-jin
A plan by the Ministry of National Defense to remove the busts of Korean independence fighters from the military academy, citing their involvement with the Soviet Communist Party, is causing a stir in political circles.
Local media outlets reported last week that the defense ministry is reviewing whether to remove the busts of five independence fighters currently standing in front of the main building of the Korean Military Academy in Seoul. The independence fighters represented are Hong Beom-do, Ji Cheong-cheon, Lee Beom-suk, Kim Jwa-jin and Lee Hoe-young.
The ministry, which initially denied the reports, later confirmed that discussions are underway about relocating the monuments.
"Considering the identity of the military academy, which is a place for nurturing officers to protect liberal democracy and South Korea against potential aggression from communist countries like North Korea, there have been controversies surrounding independence fighters who had affiliations and activities related to the Soviet Communist Party," it said in a text message sent to reporters, Saturday.
"Commemorating such individuals, especially at the central entrance of a symbolic building for cadet education, was deemed inappropriate," the ministry said, adding that it is reviewing whether to relocate the monuments to a more appropriate place.
The decision triggered a strong backlash from the opposition political party.
"President Yoon Suk Yeol, who abruptly mentioned the phrase 'communist totalitarians' in his Liberation Day speech, is now attempting to single out independence heroes with communist ideologies and erase the history of the independence movement," said main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) spokesperson Rep. Kang Sun-woo during a press conference, Saturday.
Criticism also arose within the ruling bloc. Daegu Mayor Hong Jun-pyo, a five-term lawmaker of the ruling People Power Party (PPP), called the potential removal of the busts a move that "goes against history."
"Engaging in debates over history and ideologies isn't necessarily a bad thing, but trying to label even the heroes of the anti-Japanese independence movements with the specter of communism is excessive," he wrote on Facebook, Sunday. "That goes against history and may even be misunderstood as McCarthyism," he added.
Lee Jong-chan, head of the Heritage of Korean Independence who is the grandson of independence fighter Lee Hoe-young, also joined the opposition against the defense ministry's move.
"Political debates aside, it is highly concerning that the attempt to remove the monuments may be intended at distorting the history of the Korean military," he said in a statement, demanding the defense minister nullify the plan.
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