Lee Jun-seok on Bust Relocation Controversy: "Canceled... Not a Universal Conservative Goal"

"Actions According to Some New Right Perspectives"

Former People Power Party leader Lee Jun-seok argued that the controversy over relocating General Hong Beom-do's bust within the Korea Military Academy is "an action based on a New Right perspective of some, rather than a universal aspiration of the conservative camp," and called for its cancellation.

On the 29th, Lee posted on Facebook, stating, "With the limited momentum of national governance already reaching its limits, I do not understand what is to be gained by insulting an independence activist who was awarded the Order of Merit for National Foundation."

Former People Power Party Leader Lee Jun-seok. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

He pointed out, "Until Kim Il-sung initiated the fratricidal war and communists entrenched the division, whether independence activists during the Japanese colonial era operated within the nationalist camp or the communist camp was probably as trivial a matter as choosing between candidate number 1 or number 2 in an election now," adding, "That is why President Park Chung-hee had no problem posthumously awarding General Hong Beom-do the Order of Merit for National Foundation."

He continued, "What else could it mean that former lawmaker Kim Eul-dong, granddaughter of General Kim Jwa-jin who was assassinated by communists, stepped forward to protect General Hong Beom-do's honor?" emphasizing, "Regardless of the minor or major conflicts among those who once took up armed independence movements, their evaluations should not differ based on ideology."

He added, "Since communist logic is being criticized, it now seems they are proposing another filtering criterion that 'only those after the founding of the armed forces should remain,' but then they must answer on what basis the statue of Admiral Yi Sun-sin, unrelated to the founding of the navy, stands at the Naval Academy," concluding, "Therefore, it would be best to put an end to this controversy as soon as possible."

On the 26th, the Ministry of National Defense announced, "Considering the identity of the Korea Military Academy to train officers who protect liberal democracy and the Republic of Korea against the communist state of North Korea's invasion, it was deemed inappropriate to commemorate individuals with controversial backgrounds such as membership and activities in the Soviet Communist Party, especially in the symbolic central entrance of cadet education," and declared plans to remove busts of five independence activists, including General Hong Beom-do.

The Ministry of National Defense is also reviewing relocating General Hong Beom-do's bust installed in front of the Yongsan Ministry of National Defense building to another location, and stated that the name of the navy submarine 'Hong Beom-do' could be changed if necessary.

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