Namwon-si Removes Pro-Japanese Legacy Chunhyang Portrait Enshrined in Gwanghallu Garden

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Nosik] Namwon City, Jeonbuk, has decided to remove the portrait of Chunhyang enshrined at Chunhyang Shrine in Gwanghallu Garden as part of the effort to eliminate pro-Japanese remnants.

The current portrait of Chunhyang was painted in 1961 by Idang Kim Eunho and was donated by Song Yo-chan, the head of the cabinet of the May 16 military revolutionary government. The original is kept at the Local Museum, and a copy has been enshrined at Chunhyang Shrine.

Idang attracted attention as a pro-Japanese painter included in the list of 708 pro-Japanese collaborators in the art field announced in 2002 amid controversy. He was also included in the list of 705 pro-Japanese anti-national acts (Pro-Japanese Anti-National Acts Truth Commission) in 2009.

The city plans to remove Idang’s portrait of Chunhyang by the end of September due to repair work at Chunhyang Shrine in Gwanghallu Garden, and will produce and install an information board to prevent confusion among citizens and tourists and avoid complaints.

A city official said, “We will do our best to enshrine the portrait of Chunhyang as soon as possible for the citizens and tourists.”

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