The Heritage of Korean Independence, a state-funded group of independence fighters’ descendants, led the protest. They accused Kim Hyoung-suk, the newly appointed museum president, of holding pro-Japanese views and threatening to distort Korean history.
The unprecedented split in Liberation Day commemorations underscores the deep-seated tensions surrounding Korea’s past and its implications for the present.
Kim has been labeled a “New Right” figure who seeks to establish Aug. 15, 1948, the date of South Korea’s government formation, as the national foundation day. Critics say this would undermine the country’s independence movement and legitimize Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule.
The government denies the allegations, saying Kim’s appointment was based on merit. But the controversy has ignited a heated debate about the nation’s historical narrative and deepened political divisions.
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