What Are the Differences in Ruling and Opposition Parties' Opinions on the Relocation of Hong Beom-do's Bust?

Noh "Is the Root of the ROK Military Since Its Founding?"
Ruling Party "Not Trying to Remove the Bust"

Controversy continues over the relocation of General Hong Beom-do's bust installed inside the Korea Military Academy. The opposition party pointed to the Yoon Seok-yeol administration's ideological war as the background of the 'Hong Beom-do bust relocation controversy,' but the ruling party emphasized that the bust is being relocated, not removed, and criticized the politicization of the issue.

Woo Won-sik, chairman of the Hong Beom-do General Memorial Project Association and a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, explained on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' on the 31st of last month, "(President Yoon Seok-yeol) mentioned communism and totalitarianism in his Liberation Day speech and talked about democracy as if it was connected to communism and totalitarianism, and also spoke about defending liberal democracy."

Woo said, "The controversy over General Hong Beom-do's communist party background and the five independence fighters whose busts are installed at the Korea Military Academy, and the refusal to recognize them as the roots of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, are all connected."

On the 28th, the Ministry of National Defense stated 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. Photo by Yonhap News

Woo referred to Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup's statement that "it was decided that the Korea Military Academy should focus only on military matters after its establishment rather than independence movements," pointing out that the current bust relocation controversy is similar to the founding day debate that arose during the Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye administrations.

He said, "They say that our government did not inherit the legal legitimacy of the Provisional Government and that the founding day started with the establishment of the government in 1948. Are they saying we should abolish the legal legitimacy of the Provisional Government? Are they trying to create a pro-Japanese state? Are they trying to erase the independence movement? This controversy was a major social issue. If you say the roots of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces are not the independence and liberation armies but only after the military was founded, isn't that the same controversy?"

The People Power Party holds the position that linking the 'Hong Beom-do bust relocation' to ideological debates is inappropriate. They argue that the relocation review is related only to the identity of the Korea Military Academy and is not intended to belittle General Hong's achievements.

Woo Won-sik, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea and chairman of the Hong Beom-do General Memorial Project Association, is holding a handwritten immigration card sign by General Hong Beom-do at a press conference demanding the cancellation of the removal of the bust of the anti-Japanese independence war hero and punishment for those responsible, held in front of the War Memorial in Yongsan-gu, Seoul on the 30th. Photo by Yonhap News

Jang Dong-hyuk, the floor spokesperson for the People Power Party, explained on KBS Radio's 'Choi Kyung-young's Strong Current Affairs,' "There was controversy over whether the Korea Military Academy lost its educational direction or blurred its perception of the main enemy when it changed its curriculum on the Korean War," and "this is closely related to what kind of educational institution the Korea Military Academy is and how the soldiers it trains should perceive who the main enemy is."

He continued, "Looking at General Hong Beom-do's various activities and contributions, he made significant achievements in the independence movement, but whether he engaged in activities that could serve as a spiritual pillar for the cadets is something that should have been considered when the bust was installed," adding, "Because that was lacking, it seems there is controversy now."

He emphasized, "It is not appropriate to frame this as an ideological debate or a truth dispute over historical facts by saying the bust is being completely removed," and stressed, "This is not about diminishing or erasing General Hong Beom-do's contributions to the independence movement."

Meanwhile, the Korea Military Academy officially announced on the 31st of last month that only General Hong Beom-do's bust installed on campus will be relocated outside. The busts of the other four independence activists will be moved to appropriate locations within the academy grounds.

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