Yuksa 'Independence Army Hero' Bust Removal and Relocation?..."Anti-Constitutional Act" Backlash

The Korea Military Academy (KMA) is facing controversy after it was revealed that the academy is considering dismantling and relocating the busts of Generals Hong Beom-do, Kim Jwa-jin, Ji Cheong-cheon, Lee Beom-seok, and Lee Hoe-young, the founder of the Shinheung Military Academy, an institution that trained independence fighters, which are installed in front of Chungmugwan on campus.

Representatives from the Hong Beom-do General, Udang Lee Hoe-young, Shinheung Military Academy, and Baekya Kim Jwa-jin General Memorial Associations condemned the move on the 25th, calling it an "anti-constitutional act that denies the legitimacy of history and damages the spirit of the constitution." At a press conference held at the National Assembly that day, they stated, "We have confirmed through officials at the Independence Hall that there was a request to review whether the busts of independence war heroes erected on the KMA campus could be dismantled and stored at the Independence Hall," adding, "This is a very serious and grave issue attempting to overturn the history of the independence war, which is the origin of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces."

They further questioned, "Whose order is it to dismantle the busts of the independence war heroes, which are properly erected, from the KMA campus and move them to the memorial hall?" and demanded, "The reason for the dismantling order must be clearly explained to the public, and those responsible must be held accountable."

Regarding the controversy, the KMA stated that it is reviewing plans to create a new space through a monument reorganization project. The goal is to establish a space where the entire history of overcoming national crises can be learned, not limited to a specific period.

In a statement released that day, the KMA explained, "We are promoting a reorganization project for numerous monuments on campus that commemorate the military's history and traditions," adding, "Among them, the busts of independence and liberation army heroes installed in front of the central entrance of the building where cadets study since 2018 have been subject to ongoing controversy regarding the appropriateness of their location and the issue of the history of overcoming national crises being limited to a specific period."

They continued, "The KMA is reviewing the optimal location to relocate the busts of independence and liberation army heroes to a place where many citizens can empathize," emphasizing, "On the KMA campus, the monument reorganization project is focused on creating an optimal environment that embodies the school's identity and founding purpose, and allows for the appreciation of the values and significance of protecting liberal democracy and the ROK-US alliance."

A bust of an independence war hero erected in front of Chungmugwan at the Korea Military Academy on the 99th anniversary of the March 1st Movement in 2018.

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The busts of the five independence heroes at the center of the controversy were erected in 2018 to commemorate the 99th anniversary of the March 1st Movement. They were made by melting 300 kg of cartridge cases, equivalent to 50,000 rounds of 5.56mm rifles used by our military personnel.

At the unveiling ceremony, the KMA introduced the busts as "a tribute to the noble patriotism of our predecessors who, despite not being properly supplied with guns and ammunition, defeated the Japanese army in battles such as Bongodong and Cheongsanri on the Manchurian plains, igniting the flame of national independence."

There are suspicions that the dismantling and relocation of these busts stem from an intention to replace the roots of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces from the Liberation Army to the late General Paik Sun-yup. General Paik, who made significant contributions in battles such as Dabudong during the Korean War, served in the Gando Special Unit before liberation and has been accused of pro-Japanese collaboration.

However, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Park Min-sik stated on CBS Radio on the 6th of last month, "It is true that General Paik served in the Gando Special Unit, but there were no independence armies in Manchuria at that time. I am confident enough to stake my ministerial position on the fact that he was not a pro-Japanese collaborator." Additionally, last month, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs removed the phrase "pro-Japanese anti-national act" from General Paik's enshrinement information on the National Cemetery website.

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs directly denied allegations that it ordered the dismantling and relocation of the busts. In a statement released that day, the ministry said, "The claims raised at the National Assembly press conference by the Hong Beom-do General, Udang Lee Hoe-young, Shinheung Military Academy, and Baekya Kim Jwa-jin General Memorial Associations are not true," expressing regret over "one-sided and groundless assertions made without specific fact-checking."

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