[2023 National Audit] Oh Se-hoon on Relocating Hong Beom-do Bust: "Focus Should Be on the Life of the Independence Activist"

National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee State Audit

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon addressed the controversy over relocating the bust of General Hong Beom-do within the Korea Military Academy, stating, "I believe that evaluations of historical figures should focus on their strengths."

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon is taking an oath at the National Assembly's Public Administration and Security Committee's audit of Seoul City Hall held at Seoul City Hall on the 16th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

On the 16th, during the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee's audit held at Seoul City Hall, Mayor Oh responded to a question from Lee Hyung-seok, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, saying, "I think it is necessary to focus on the fact that he (General Hong Beom-do) lived his life as an independence activist."

When asked whether he agreed with the opinion expressed by Han Si-jun, director of the Independence Hall, Mayor Oh replied, "Yes." Earlier, Director Han had stated on the 13th during the Political Affairs Committee audit, "Personally, I think it is better to leave the bust as it is at the Military Academy."

Mayor Oh said, "I believe that evaluations of historical figures should focus on their strengths," adding, "Rather than emphasizing their shortcomings to highlight historical figures, we should emphasize the strengths that can serve as examples for future generations."

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