According to Yonhap News Agency, the Heritage of Korean Independence (HKI), a state-funded organization representing descendants of independence fighters, led the alternative ceremony at Hyochang Park. This marked the first instance where such groups diverged from the government's official commemoration. The controversy centers around the appointment of Kim Hyoung-suk as president of the Independence Hall of Korea, whom critics accuse of harboring pro-Japanese sympathies.
HKI chief Lee Jong-chan criticized the historical distortions he attributes to Kim, asserting that they compromise the integrity of Korea's historical narrative. The crux of the opposition's complaint is Kim's alleged support for recognizing August 15, 1948 — the date when South Korea's government was officially established — as the national foundation day, which they argue would diminish the significance of August 15, 1945, the date marking Korea's liberation from Japanese rule.
The government has denied any plans to change the national foundation day, but skepticism remains due to Kim's previous statements. The debate reflects broader ideological tensions about the origins and legacy of modern South Korea.
The main opposition Democratic Party and other smaller parties participated in the HKI-led ceremony, signaling a significant rift in how different political groups perceive national history and memory. Meanwhile, spokespeople from the ruling People Power Party have criticized the boycott as politically motivated, arguing that it undermines the unity and significance of the national Liberation Day.