Ruling and Opposition Clash in History War... The Essence of the Hong Beom-do Controversy: 'Rallying Supporters?'

People Power Party "Reasonable Decision by Ministry of National Defense and Korea Military Academy"
President Yoon Emphasizes Ideology
Experts "Consolidating Support Base Ahead of General Election"

The ruling and opposition parties are engaged in a historical battle over General Hong Beom-do, who led the Battle of Bongodong. Ahead of next year's general election, there are various interpretations that the government and ruling party are using ideology and history as a strategy to solidify their support base.

On the 29th, Yoo Sang-beom, spokesperson for the People Power Party, said in an interview on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' regarding the issue of moving General Hong's bust from the Army Academy campus to the Independence Hall, "The issue of General Hong's bust was originally about relocating the bust at the Military Academy to the Independence Hall in consideration of his legacy as an independence activist, but it became a controversy framed entirely as a demolition problem," adding, "What historical controversy could there be in moving a bust of an independence activist from somewhere in Seoul to the Independence Hall, which commemorates independence activists?" Regarding future handling, Spokesperson Yoo said, "I expect the Ministry of National Defense and the Military Academy to make a reasonable decision fully considering public opinion."

On the 28th, the Ministry of National Defense announced that it is considering relocating the bust of the late General Hong Beom-do, not only within the Korea Military Academy campus but also the one installed in front of the Ministry of National Defense building if necessary. The photo shows the bust of the late General Hong Beom-do installed in front of the Ministry of National Defense building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

As even within the ruling party there were criticisms that the issue of General Hong's bust had 'gone too far,' the People Power Party shifted blame to the framing that the 'relocation issue' was mistakenly known as a 'demolition issue,' while also taking a stance of stepping back by saying it is a matter for the Military Academy and Ministry of National Defense to decide. Although the controversy over General Hong appears to be a kind of incident, analysis suggests that the ideological issues recently emphasized by President Yoon are at play.

In fact, President Yoon Suk-yeol said at the People Power Party training session the day before, "We were trapped in outdated, bogus ideological fraud, and regarding that, we say 'Our party is about pragmatism rather than ideology,' but there is no pragmatism without a clear philosophy and direction," adding, "We must clearly set the direction of where we are going and clearly recognize our current coordinates to proceed properly."

Political commentator Park Sang-byeong said, "President Yoon has clearly differentiated the ruling and opposition parties based on ideology," and predicted, "This policy stance will function as a frame for next year's general election." Commentator Park said, "The terms 'communist totalitarian forces' and 'anti-state forces' mentioned by President Yoon in his Liberation Day speech are not only expressions of his will to govern but also frames for next year's general election." He added, "I think President Yoon plans to first rally his support base and then take major actions aimed at centrist voters around early next year."

However, there is also an interpretation that President Yoon's mention of ideology cannot be seen merely as a framework for a historical war. Kim Byung-min, a Supreme Council member of the People Power Party, explained on KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs,' "The ideology President Yoon mentioned refers not to the ideological confrontations of the past such as communism and liberalism, but rather to the overall directions of national governance related to diplomacy, security, and the economy." Professor Shin Yul of Myongji University also interpreted in a phone interview with Asia Economy, "President Yoon's mention of ideology reflects the changing landscape of international politics where the world is divided into new blocs, causing all issues to be split." However, Professor Shin added, "For the public, it might appear as an old ideological debate, so it would have been enough to show diplomatic alignment with the West without necessarily bringing up ideology."

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