A Man in His 40s Arrested for Attempted Arson at the Former Home of National Poet Lee Sanghwa (Patriots and Veterans Affairs Ministry Memorial Facility)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] A man in his 40s who attempted to set fire to the former home of the nationalist poet Lee Sang-hwa, designated as a memorial facility by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, has been arrested.

On the 17th, Daegu Jungbu Police Station announced that they had arrested A (46) on charges of attempted arson of a dwelling (attempted arson of a residential building) for attempting to set fire to the 'Lee Sang-hwa Former House.'

According to the police, A is accused of setting fire to a banner hanging on the wall of the Lee Sang-hwa Former House located in Gyesean-dong, Jung-gu, Daegu, at around 3:30 a.m. on the 7th.

Analysis of closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage of the incident showed that he reached over the wall to set fire to the former house building but, failing to do so, tried to set fire to the wall instead, according to the police. It is known that A is strongly denying the charges against him.

Meanwhile, the 'Lee Sang-hwa Former House' was designated as a memorial facility by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs at the end of May. The Ministry selects and manages memorial facilities such as buildings, sculptures, historic sites, or places of patriotic contribution that honor the spirit of national merit recipients and those who have devoted themselves to the country.

Nationalist poet Lee Sang-hwa was born in Daegu in 1901. He debuted as a member of the magazine 'Baekjo' in 1921 and wrote poems expressing resistance to Japanese colonial rule, including "Does Spring Come to the Stolen Fields?" The Lee Sang-hwa Former House is where he spent his later years. After restoration work, it has been open to the public since 2008.

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