Choo Mi-ae Receives 'Independence Activist Choi Jae-hyung Award,' What Are Your Thoughts?

The Liberation Association Awards Minister Chu the 'Independence Activist Choi Jae-hyung Prize'
Opposition from Public Including Choi Jae-hyung Memorial Foundation
Kim Won-woong, Liberation Association President, Also Criticized for 'Political Bias'

Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae is responding to questions regarding the group infection at Dongbu Detention Center during the plenary session of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the morning of the 8th. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-eun] The Liberation Association, an organization of descendants of independence activists, is facing backlash from related groups for awarding a prize named after independence activist Choi Jae-hyung to Justice Minister Choo Mi-ae, claiming the award violates regulations. Additionally, political controversy has arisen due to past remarks by Kim Won-woong, president of the Liberation Association, coinciding with this award.

Earlier, on the 22nd, the Liberation Association announced plans to present the 'Independence Activist Choi Jae-hyung Award' to Minister Choo. The Liberation Association stated that "During her tenure as Minister of Justice, Minister Choo resumed the national confiscation of pro-Japanese properties, which had been halted by the Lee Myung-bak administration," and added, "Efforts by the Ministry of Justice during Minister Choo's term to nationalize 171 parcels of land, including pro-Japanese properties of Lee Hae-seung, who was granted a marquis title by Japan, with a publicly announced value of 52 billion won (market value 300 billion won), are recognized," explaining the reason for the award.

The award ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. on the 25th at the Liberation Hall in Yeouido, Seoul. Minister Choo is expected to attend in person. The Liberation Association established the 'Choi Jae-hyung Award' last year to honor Choi Jae-hyung, who fought against Japanese colonial rule in Russia. The first recipient in May of the same year was the late lawmaker Kim Sang-hyun, followed by former National Assembly Secretary-General Yoo In-tae in December. Minister Choo was selected as the third recipient just one month later.

Choi Jae-hyung, after whom the award is named, is known as the patriarch of the Korean independence movement in the Russian Korean community. He used most of his wealth to support the anti-Japanese struggle and is also known for supporting An Jung-geun's assassination of Ito Hirobumi.

However, once this news became public, public opinion expressed negative reactions such as "What are the criteria for the award?" and "I don't understand on what basis the award is given."

In particular, the Incorporated Association 'Independence Activist Choi Jae-hyung Memorial Project Association (Project Association)' strongly opposed the award, stating that awarding a prize named after an independence activist without the approval of descendants and the Project Association damages Choi's honor. Since the Project Association has already established and operates the 'Choi Jae-hyung Award,' the Liberation Association's separate creation of an award without consultation and awarding it to certain political figures is causing unnecessary confusion and diminishing the spirit of the independence movement.

The Project Association stated, "Awarding a prize in the name of Choi Jae-hyung, who is respected by the public across party lines, constitutes political activity prohibited by the Liberation Association's bylaws," and criticized, "It is judged to be an act to satisfy the personal greed of Kim Won-woong, president of the Liberation Association." Moon Young-sook, director of the Independence Activist Choi Jae-hyung Memorial Project Association, also protested on the afternoon of the 25th at the Liberation Hall in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, against the decision to award the prize named after Choi to Minister Choo.

In response to these objections, the Liberation Association said, "We are making efforts to better promote and honor independence activists by creating awards such as the 'Dan-jae Shin Chae-ho Award' and the 'Yi Yuk-sa Award,' as well as the 'Choi Jae-hyung Award,'" and added, "Awards are given strictly based on internal evaluation criteria, and they are not distributed indiscriminately nor for any political purpose."

Kim Won-woong, President of the Liberation Association, is delivering a commemorative speech at the 100th anniversary ceremony of activist Park Jae-hyeok's heroic act held on the morning of October 28 last year at the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry International Conference Hall. Photo by Yonhap News

Meanwhile, Kim Won-woong, president of the Liberation Association, has been controversial for politically biased remarks, and his statements have resurfaced, leading to criticism that this award is a form of political activity and an act to satisfy Kim's personal greed.

Previously, in a commemorative speech at the Liberation Day ceremony last year, Kim stated, "Former President Syngman Rhee colluded with pro-Japanese collaborators, preventing our society from completing the purge of pro-Japanese elements," and "Someone who led the suppression of independence fighters is buried in a prime spot at the National Cemetery," causing controversy.

At a press conference held at the National Assembly last year, Kim mentioned the names of local government heads and lawmakers affiliated with the United Future Party (now People Power Party), saying, "The public's perception that the United Future Party, which does not break ties with pro-Japanese sympathizers, is one with native Japanese collaborators will deepen." He received a warning from the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and also sparked controversy by referring to Ahn Eak-tai, composer of the national anthem, stating, "South Korea is the only country in the world to adopt a song composed by a traitor to the nation as its national anthem."

This award to Minister Choo is expected to become a political controversy as well. Former People Power Party lawmaker Park Min-sik wrote on his Facebook on the 25th, "Giving an independence activist award to Choo Mi-ae is truly absurd," and criticized, "Descendants of Choi Jae-hyung and the Memorial Project Association oppose it, it undermines the purpose of the Liberation Association, and insults independence activists." He added, "I fear our children will remember Choo Mi-ae as an independence activist."

People Party lawmaker Lee Tae-gyu also said on the same day, "An independence activist award to Minister Choo Mi-ae is laughable," and questioned, "Is it reasonable and logical to award a prize to someone who endured all hardships and devoted themselves to national liberation?" He criticized, "If the Liberation Association is manipulated by politics and trapped in ideological and factional logic, it will inevitably disturb the spirit of independence activists who sacrificed for the country and tarnish the spirit of independence."

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