"Distortion Must Be Avoided in Ideological Interpretation of Gwanghwamun Square as a National Symbolic Space"

Announcement of National Symbol Space Development Plan around Gwanghwamun Square, Seoul on the 20th
Lee Seong-bae, Representative of the People Power Party, "We will spare no support for the creation of the National Symbol Space"

Lee Seong-bae, the leader of the People Power Party in the Seoul Metropolitan Council (Songpa 4), stated on the 20th that he will spare no effort to cooperate for the successful creation of the national symbolic space around Gwanghwamun Square announced by Seoul City, and emphasized that the intention of the creation should not be distorted by ideological interpretations of national symbols such as the Taegeukgi.

On the 20th, Seoul City announced the results of citizen opinion collection so far and future plans regarding the creation of the national symbolic space around Gwanghwamun Square at a press briefing.

Based on the results of this citizen opinion collection, Seoul City plans to create a national symbolic space at Gwanghwamun Square with artistic elements such as media art and light sculptures, themed around universal human values like freedom and peace, as well as the spirit of sacrifice of war veterans.

Lee Seong-bae, the leader of the People Power Party in the Seoul Metropolitan Council (Songpa 4), expressed his welcome and cooperation for the creation of the national symbolic space. Furthermore, he expressed deep concern about national symbols such as the Taegeukgi becoming political issues due to excessive ideological interpretations, and emphasized that everyone must unite their efforts for the creation of the national symbolic space.

In particular, on July 16, Lee Seong-bae held a meeting hosted by the People Power Party floor leaders with world championship medalists to discuss current issues in the sports world. Attending the meeting were Senior Deputy Leader Lee Kyung-sook, Deputy Leaders Song Kyung-taek and Kim Gyu-nam, Beijing Olympic judo gold medalist Professor Choi Min-ho, and ISU Short Track World Championship gold medalist Kim Do-gyeom.

Also on that day, Jin Jong-oh, a member of the National Assembly and gold medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympics, 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2012 London Olympics, and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, visited the Seoul Metropolitan Council and held discussions with council members on current issues including the installation of the Taegeukgi at Gwanghwamun Square.

The meeting involved various discussions on sports issues such as the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2036 Seoul Olympics. Council member Song Kyung-taek (proportional representation, 2007 Milan World Championships, 2007 Changchun Asian Games, World Championship short track gold medalist) and the medalists shared their experiences and reflections on promoting national prestige through winning gold medals at world competitions.

During the meeting, there was also a conversation about the raising of the Taegeukgi in the national symbolic space at Gwanghwamun Square. The medalists attending the meeting expressed regret that the recent controversy over raising the Taegeukgi at Gwanghwamun Square has been politicized, saying, “Sports have united the people of the Republic of Korea, and we feel pride in the Taegeukgi that symbolizes that Korea.”

Council member Lee Seong-bae also stated that the raising of the Taegeukgi, which symbolizes the Republic of Korea, should not be overlaid with ideology or politicized. He said, “The Taegeukgi in the national symbolic space at Gwanghwamun Square is itself the identity of the Republic of Korea and the symbol that best represents the free democratic Korea since its founding,” and added, “For athletes representing the country, it is like a medal on their chest, so it is very regrettable to denounce it with totalitarian ideas and distort it through ideological interpretation.”

Finally, Council member Lee Seong-bae concluded by saying, “The Mall in the UK proudly flies the Union Jack, and the plaza in San Francisco, USA, proudly displays that country’s flag, both being representative national symbolic spaces. Although Seoul is the capital of the Republic of Korea, there is no suitable space to be called a representative national symbolic space. I hope this project proceeds without further ideological disputes and that a space representing the nation is created in Seoul.”

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