Controversy over 'Jeong Yul-seong Park Creation'... Gwangju "Achievements as Musician" vs Veterans Affairs "Should Withdraw"

Jeong Yul-seong, Independence Activist from Gwangju
Participated in Chinese Communist Forces during Korean War... Composer of 'March of the Eighth Route Army'

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs and Gwangju Metropolitan City engaged in a heated debate over the Jeong Yul-seong Historical Park project. The Ministry argued that the project should be withdrawn, pointing out Jeong Yul-seong's pro-North Korean and pro-Chinese actions during the Korean War, while Gwangju emphasized that considering the historical context and Jeong Yul-seong's achievements, the park's establishment is appropriate.

Earlier, in May 2020, Gwangju announced plans to create the 'Jeong Yul-seong Historical Park' in the Bullo-dong area of Dong-gu. The park is scheduled to be completed by the end of this year, with a total budget of 4.8 billion KRW reportedly allocated for the project.

Jeong Yul-seong was an independence activist and musician from Gwangju. In 1939, he joined the Chinese Communist Party and composed the 'March of the Eighth Route Army,' which is now the march of the Chinese People's Liberation Army. During the Korean War, he conducted morale-boosting activities for the Chinese People's Volunteer Army on the front lines and later naturalized as a Chinese citizen.

Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Min-sik. Photo by Yonhap News

Park Min-sik, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, raised concerns, stating that Jeong Yul-seong was an anti-national figure who participated in the Korean War as a member of the Chinese Communist forces and insisted that the project be completely withdrawn.

On the 22nd, Minister Park wrote on his Facebook, "When the tragic Korean War broke out, he organized a war entertainment troupe to comfort the Chinese Communist forces," adding, "Not stopping there, he completely abandoned his nation, naturalized as a Chinese citizen, composed works for the Chinese Communist Party, and ended his life as a Chinese."

Kang Ki-jung, Mayor of Gwangju. Photo by Yonhap News

Kang Gi-jung, Mayor of Gwangju, stated that Jeong Yul-seong was an independence activist and musician with notable achievements and declared, "Gwangju will invest in the Jeong Yul-seong Historical Park." Through his Facebook post that day, Mayor Kang said, "His life, as an independence activist and musician who ended his life as a Chinese citizen, reflects the pain of the era," adding, "Only by embracing and overcoming this pain can Gwangju and the Republic of Korea mature to the next level."

He also said, "Thanks to his achievements as an outstanding musician, many Chinese tourists visit Gwangju," and "Gwangju will discover and invest in Jeong Yul-seong as a historical and cultural resource of the city."

Minister Park immediately rebutted. He questioned, "Is this (park establishment) for attracting Chinese tourists?" and asked, "If it’s profitable, does national identity not matter? Why build a memorial park for a communist propagandist like Jeong Yul-seong?"

Regarding Mayor Kang’s mention of the 'pain of the era,' Minister Park said, "It is precisely because we know that 'pain of the era' that we are even more outraged," adding, "This is the Republic of Korea where countless people who were killed by the enemy, who came chanting the military songs he composed, still have their blood uncooled."

Minister Park concluded, "Whether through private fundraising or private investment, I hope public funds are not touched," and said, "Local governments are not here to commemorate such anti-national figures."

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