SEOUL — Independence activist groups and opposition parties have announced plans to boycott the government's official ceremony marking the 79th anniversary of Liberation Day, citing discontent with the recent appointment of the new president of the Independence Hall of Korea.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the decision to boycott stems from concerns over the appointment of Kim Hyoung-suk, who has been accused of harboring pro-Japanese sentiments. This decision marks the first time HKI will hold a separate ceremony, which is planned to take place at Hyochang Park in central Seoul. The controversy revolves around Kim's previous statements suggesting that South Korea was founded in 1948, which many see as an attempt to shift the focus from the actual Liberation Day on August 15, 1945, the date marking the end of Japanese colonial rule over Korea. The main opposition Democratic Party and several minor parties have joined HKI in this protest, aiming to challenge what they perceive as the government's revisionist historical narrative.
The ruling People Power Party (PPP) criticized the boycott, arguing that such actions split the national Memorial Day and undermine the spirit of liberation, urging unity and participation in the government-led event.