Conflict Between Gwangbokhoe and Descendants of Martyrs Over 'Sungukseonyeol Day'

Bereaved Families Association "Kwangbokhoe's Attempt to Disparage Patriotic Martyrs"
Kwangbokhoe, "Misunderstanding, Not an Official Position on Name Change"

The Liberation Association (Chairman Lee Jong-chan) is facing strong opposition from the Association of Bereaved Families of Patriotic Martyrs (Bereaved Families Association, Chairman Lee Dong-il) after announcing that it will not participate in the national memorial day ceremony for 'Patriotic Martyrs Day' and will instead hold a separate event renamed the 'Joint Memorial Ceremony for Independence Meritorious Patriots.' On the 6th, the Bereaved Families Association issued a statement titled "The Liberation Association Must Immediately Stop Its Series of Acts That Disparage the Patriotic Martyrs," expressing their position that "we strongly condemn the Liberation Association and demand an immediate halt to these actions."

Recently, the Liberation Association sent invitations to its branches and chapters stating that instead of the 'Patriotic Martyrs Day' ceremony on the 17th, it will hold a separate event called the 'Joint Memorial Ceremony for Independence Meritorious Patriots.' The invitation stated, "Starting this year, instead of Patriotic Martyrs Day, the ceremony will be held two days earlier on the 15th at 11 a.m. at the National Seoul National Cemetery’s Memorial Hall as the 'Joint Memorial Ceremony for Independence Meritorious Patriots.'"

Invitation to the Joint Memorial Ceremony for Independence Patriots and Martyrs
Photo by Gwangbokhoe

Additionally, it has been reported that the Special Committee on Legal Amendments within the Liberation Association plans to propose to the government and the National Assembly to rename the existing government ceremony for 'Patriotic Martyrs Day' to the 'Joint Memorial Ceremony for Independence Meritorious Patriots.'

In response, the Bereaved Families Association immediately opposed the move, calling it "an event that disparages the spirit of the Patriotic Martyrs." They stated, "The Liberation Association deliberately ignored the moment of silence for the Patriotic Martyrs at recent events," and "The Liberation Association is blatantly pushing to change the name of the annually held 'Patriotic Martyrs Day' and hold a separate ceremony. For the first time since its establishment, the Liberation Association will hold an event called the 'Independence Meritorious Patriots Memorial Ceremony' on November 15, ignoring the official 'Patriotic Martyrs Day' on November 17. This erasure of the term 'Patriotic Martyrs' and the renaming of the day will face the anger of not only the descendants of independence activists but the entire nation."

The Liberation Association clarified that there was a misunderstanding regarding the invitation. A public relations team official said, "It seems the invitation caused confusion," and added, "We are not boycotting or holding a separate event from the government ceremony for Patriotic Martyrs Day on the morning of the 17th." They explained, "The joint memorial service with the Bereaved Families Association, which is officially held after the government ceremony at 2 p.m., will be held separately in advance on the 15th." They also stated that the proposal to change the name is only at the discussion stage within the Special Committee on Legal Amendments and is not an official position.

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