Controversy Over Choi Jae-hyung Award by Gwangbokhoe... Why?

President Moon Jae-in and Kim Won-woong, President of the Korea Liberation Association (right), are entering the 75th Liberation Day Celebration held at Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul on the morning of August 15.

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The “Choi Jae-hyung Award” for independence activists, presented by the Liberation Association (Chairman Kim Won-woong) to Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae, has become controversial. The Choi Jae-hyung Award was created to honor independence activist Choi Jae-hyung, who fought against Japanese colonial rule in Russia, but no consultation was made with the Choi Jae-hyung Memorial Project Association, the organization that actually commemorates Mr. Choi. In particular, there are criticisms that since Chairman Kim Won-woong took office as head of the Liberation Association, the awards have been disproportionately given to ruling party lawmakers.

According to government officials, the Liberation Association awarded Minister Chu Mi-ae the “Independence Activist Choi Jae-hyung Award” on the afternoon of the 25th at the Liberation Association Hall in Yeouido. At the award ceremony, Chairman Kim said, “Minister Chu resumed the national confiscation of pro-Japanese property, which had been halted by the Lee Myung-bak administration,” and added, “Minister Chu has led reforms of power institutions based on democratic principles of checks and balances while implementing human rights and livelihood-centered policies for socially vulnerable groups, sounding an alarm to vested interests.”

The Choi Jae-hyung Award was established last year by the Liberation Association to honor Mr. Choi Jae-hyung. The late lawmaker Kim Sang-hyun and former National Assembly Secretary-General Yoo In-tae have received this award. Controversy arose because the Liberation Association did not consult with the Choi Jae-hyung Memorial Project Association during the selection process for this year’s recipient. Moon Young-sook, director of the Choi Jae-hyung Memorial Project Association, reportedly visited the Liberation Association to protest but was refused even a meeting.

Chairman Kim’s actions have also come under scrutiny. Kim, who took office in June 2019, was a former Democratic Republican Party office member during the Republic era in 1972 and served three terms as a lawmaker while switching party affiliations multiple times among the Democratic Justice Party, Democratic Party, Grand National Party, and Uri Party.

The Liberation Association’s articles of association, Article 9 (Prohibition of Political Activities), clearly state, “This association (Liberation Association) shall not engage in any political activities such as supporting or opposing any particular party or individual.”

Kim’s remarks have also sparked controversy. He was sued by the family of the late composer Ahn Ik-tae (1906?1965), who composed the national anthem, after Kim labeled Ahn a “traitor to the nation” for alleged pro-Japanese and pro-Nazi activities.

At last year’s Liberation Day ceremony, Kim claimed, “The Liberation Association obtained materials related to Ahn Ik-tae’s pro-Japanese and pro-Nazi activities from the German government,” and “Among them is footage of Ahn conducting a concert in Berlin celebrating the 10th anniversary of the founding of Manchukuo.” Kim also appeared on several radio broadcasts asserting, “Ahn was responsible for Japanese espionage in Berlin,” “The lyrics of the national anthem composed by Ahn were plagiarized from Bulgarian folk songs,” and “Parts of Ahn’s ‘Manchurian Fantasy’ are being introduced as ‘Korea Fantasy.’”

In a lecture invited by the Gyeongnam Provincial Council, he also stated, “The United States and South Korea are not allies,” and “Our country was divided by the United States, and because of the division, the Korean War occurred; therefore, the structural cause of the war lies with the United States.”

As the controversy continued, the Republic of Korea Veterans Association declared, “We will not recognize Kim Won-woong, chairman of the Liberation Association, as a head of a veterans’ organization,” and “Twelve veterans’ organizations will exclude Chairman Kim from all future events.”

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