General Hong Beom-do Memorial Ceremony... Controversy Over Bust Removal

Business Association: "Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Supports Removal of Hong Janggun Bust"
Some Attendees Also Returned Floral Tribute from President Yoon Suk-yeol

At the 80th anniversary memorial ceremony for General Hong Beom-do's martyrdom, friction continued between the government and the Yeocheon Hong Beom-do General Memorial Association. The association opposed the relocation of General Hong's bust, promoted by the Korea Military Academy, which was even criticized as disparagement.

On the morning of the 25th, the 80th anniversary memorial ceremony for General Hong Beom-do's death and the victory commemoration ceremony of the Battle of Cheongsan-ri were held at the National Daejeon National Cemetery in Yuseong-gu, Daejeon.

On this day, when some attendees turned President Yoon Seok-yeol's condolence wreath backward, Woo Won-sik, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, and others put the presidential wreath back in its original place.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the morning of the 25th, at the memorial ceremony for General Hong Beom-do held at the National Daejeon National Cemetery, Woo Won-sik, a member of the Democratic Party and chairman of the Yeocheon Hong Beom-do General Memorial Association, said, "General Hong Beom-do still cannot rest peacefully on the homeland soil he returned to after 78 years. This is because of the controversy over the removal of his bust." He added, "It is heartbreaking that the Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs seems to be sympathizing with that controversy."

Woo recalled Minister Park's remark during the National Assembly audit on the 13th, saying, "An Jung-geun is an absolute hero in the history of the independence movement, but is it right to install his statue in front of the Japanese Embassy?" and criticized it as "hard to believe."

Furthermore, he called the bust removal an "unexpected historical coup" and urged, "On this occasion, I earnestly ask the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs to take the lead in canceling the removal of the busts and the Independence Heroes Room in front of the Korea Military Academy Memorial Hall."

Lee Jong-chan, president of the Liberation Association, also pointed out in a memorial speech read by Yang Jun-young, head of the Daejeon branch, "It is very regrettable that recently some people have been making various remarks about the General after his remains were repatriated and brought to Korea."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding the association's opposition, Park Min-sik, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, who delivered the memorial speech, did not give a direct answer. However, in his speech, he said, "The General, who bravely fought for the homeland, died in exile without seeing liberation, but his path became the path of countless patriotic youths, and through this, we were finally able to achieve liberation in 1945."

He continued, "The Moon Jae-in administration brought the General's remains back to the homeland, and the Yoon Seok-yeol administration established family registers at the Independence Hall for 156 stateless independence activists, including the General, to honor them as great independence activists," emphasizing, "It is the most important duty of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs to ensure that our people always remember and honor the great history of independence heroes who risked their lives for the country and nation."

This was the first time since 2021, the year the General's remains were repatriated from the Kyzylorda cemetery in Kazakhstan, that the Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs attended the memorial ceremony. Previously, the head of the Seoul Veterans Office usually attended. Initially, the Ministry had distributed a press release stating that Vice Minister Yoon Jong-jin would attend this event, but considering the symbolism of the 80th anniversary of martyrdom, it was changed to Minister Park's attendance.

About 100 people attended the ceremony, including actor Jo Jin-woong, who played the role of Choo Sang-ok, aka "Soksapo," from the Shinheung Military Academy in the movie "Assassination," Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Yong-bin, former Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Jong-gul, chairman of the Woo Dang Lee Hoe-young Memorial Association, and Jung Yong-rae, mayor of Yuseong District, Daejeon.

A wreath sent by President Yoon Seok-yeol was also placed, and although some attendees protested and turned the wreath backward, it did not lead to physical confrontation. Following suggestions from the memorial ceremony organizers, including Woo Won-sik, who said, "The President's wreath should remain in place," Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs staff promptly returned the wreath to its original position. After paying respects, Minister Park and Representative Woo moved together to General Hong Beom-do's portrait and toured the burial site.

After receiving explanations about General Hong Beom-do's portrait and burial site from Representative Woo, Minister Park said, "The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs will do its best to honor him."

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