[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Who Are the Awardees Tripled by the President of Gwangbok Association?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] It has been revealed that the Liberation Association awarded commendations to over 100 people last year. Before the current chairman Kim Won-woong took office, the number of commendations did not even reach about 30 per year, supporting the criticism that the commendations had a strong political nature.

According to the Liberation Association's award status obtained by this outlet on the 24th, before Chairman Kim took office in June 2019, the number of commendations did not exceed 30. In 2016, there were 8 recipients (4 Liberation Association members), in 2017, 28 (6 members), in 2018, 10 (5 members), and in 2019, only 26 (9 members).

However, after Chairman Kim took office, the number of commendations increased to 102 (6 members) last year. Politicians who received the Independence Army Award last year include National Assembly members Seol Hoon, Woo Won-shik, and Ahn Min-seok. Politicians awarded the Choi Jae-hyung Award include the late National Assembly member Kim Sang-hyun, former National Assembly Secretary-General Yoo In-tae, and former Minister Chu Mi-ae. Local government heads who received the Danjae Shin Chae-ho Award include Park Seung-won, Mayor of Gwangmyeong, Kim Young-jong, Mayor of Jongno District, Seoul, and Eun Soo-mi, Mayor of Seongnam.

On the 16th, members of the People Power Party belonging to the National Assembly's Political Affairs Committee called for the resignation of Kim Won-woong, chairman of the Liberation Association, stating that he had privatized the association and damaged the spirit of the independence movement. In a joint statement, they said, "Considering that Chairman Kim has tarnished the honor of the Liberation Association, he should have stepped down from his position long ago. Mr. Kim is angry that Chairman Kim has politically exploited the Liberation Association," and demanded the suspension of disciplinary procedures. They also claimed, "Chairman Kim has indiscriminately awarded various honors to figures from the Moon Jae-in administration, such as former Minister of Justice Chu Mi-ae, based on personal friendships or political purposes," and argued that "he is turning the Liberation Association into a political group."

The Liberation Association planned to discuss disciplinary measures against the descendant of an independence activist who grabbed Chairman Kim Won-woong by the collar at a public event the previous day, but the matter ended in a fistfight among the descendants. On the 23rd, the Liberation Association was scheduled to hold a disciplinary committee meeting to decide the level of discipline for Kim Im-yong (69), the descendant who grabbed Chairman Kim by the collar.

However, about 30 members opposing Chairman Kim, including groups such as the "Liberation Association Reform Group" and the "Liberation Association Normalization Promotion Headquarters," held a counter-rally in front of the Liberation Association building, demanding Chairman Kim's resignation. When access to the building was blocked for all except Mr. Kim, opposing members attempted to enter, resulting in chaos, and the disciplinary committee could not properly begin.

The "Liberation Association Reform Group" and others claim, "Since politician Kim Won-woong became chairman of the Liberation Association, over the past two years, he has stood at the center of the political arena, and his provocative remarks and actions have distorted the pure spirit of independence, causing disappointment and condemnation among members. It has become routine for him to cause national division and factionalism among members," and argue that "the person who should be disciplined is Chairman Kim Won-woong."

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