First Inaugural Ceremony of the Busan Promotion Committee for Fundraising to Build the Rhee Syngman Presidential Memorial Hall

The Busan City Promotion Committee for raising funds to build the Syngman Rhee Presidential Memorial Hall has officially launched.

On the 5th at 2 p.m., the Busan Promotion Committee held the "Syngman Rhee Presidential Memorial Hall Construction Fundraising Busan Metropolitan City Promotion Committee Launch Ceremony" at the Busan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, deciding to begin fundraising activities on a citywide civic level.

Since Busan served as the temporary capital during the Korean War and led the victory, this launch started with the purpose that Busan citizens should actively participate in building the memorial hall to properly record and inherit the achievements of former President Syngman Rhee.

The Busan Promotion Committee will take charge of various preparatory processes necessary for fundraising and the construction of the memorial hall.

Additionally, they will carry out activities such as the "Know Syngman Rhee Correctly" campaign combined with cultural arts promotions, video screenings, exploring Syngman Rhee-related history in Busan, which was once a city of exhibitions, lectures, forums, and talk shows.

The event proceeded in the order of the national ceremony, progress report, introduction of guests, chairman’s greeting, and congratulatory speeches, with Shin Jeong-taek, chairman of Sewoon Steel, being appointed as the overall promotion chairman.

Inauguration Ceremony of the Busan City Promotion Committee for Fundraising for the Construction of the Syngman Rhee Presidential Memorial Hall.

Kim Hwang-sik, chairman of the Syngman Rhee Presidential Memorial Foundation, and Park Hyung-joon, mayor of Busan, also participated in the event and congratulated the launch of the Busan Promotion Committee in their speeches.

Shin Jeong-taek, overall promotion chairman of the Busan Promotion Committee for fundraising for the Syngman Rhee Presidential Memorial Hall, said, “We aim to properly record and inherit the achievements of former President Syngman Rhee, passing on his spirit and accomplishments to future generations, uniting as one to prepare for the future. As the first step, the Promotion Committee will raise 3 billion won in Busan.”

Chairman Kim Hwang-sik said in his congratulatory speech, “Every country in the world has a memorial hall for its first president. It is more important to build a memorial hall for the first president to help people understand our country’s history correctly, leaving the evaluation of merits and faults to future generations.”

Chairman Kim added, “I am pleased and grateful to hold the launch ceremony of the Syngman Rhee Presidential Memorial Hall in Busan, which feels like my hometown, and I send my applause to all the guests present.”

Mayor Park Hyung-joon of Busan said, “I consider it meaningful as the first nationwide promotion committee for building the memorial hall of former President Syngman Rhee, who laid the foundation of the Republic of Korea, was launched here in Busan.”

Lee Chang-jin, general director of fundraising for the Syngman Rhee Presidential Memorial Hall Construction Promotion Committee, emphasized, “As the first president of the Republic of Korea, Syngman Rhee holds a historic position, and this memorial hall construction will have great significance in passing on and honoring his achievements to future generations. Through this movement, I hope it becomes an opportunity for the people to unite based on a correct understanding of history.”

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