Pro-Rhee foundation members kept out of ceremony

“How dare you enter this place!”

A resonant voice was heard Tuesday amid preparation for a ceremony to mark the 51st anniversary of the April 19, 1960, student revolution at the National Cemetery in Seoul’s Gangbuk district.

When a minibus arrived at the entrance of the cemetery, 30 people in their 70s blocked the bus from entering. They kicked the bus, with one person saying, “How dare you murderers come here on the memorial day for the victims?”

The passengers in the bus were members of the First Korean President Dr. Syngman Rhee Memorial Foundation. Rhee In-soo, the former president’s foster son, managed to get off the bus but was kicked out of the cemetery.

Rhee In-soo and other members of the foundation had gone to the cemetery to pay their respects to the victims of the civil uprising 51 years ago and present an apology to the bereaved families. They were thrown out less than 10 minutes after their arrival, however.

Three organizations -- the April 19 Democratic Revolution Association, the Association of the Bereaved Families of the April 19 Revolution, and the Association of Persons of Merit for the April 19 Revolution -- stood guard from early morning to prevent the members of the Rhee foundation from entering.

On the Rhee foundation’s plan to offer an apology to the victims` families, the three organizations issued a statement Monday saying they reject an “apology without seriousness.”

Lee Yeoung-gu of the April 19 Democratic Revolution Association said, “It doesn’t make sense that the perpetrators come to the memorial service for the victims they killed without permission after 50 years and issued a statement for an apology.”

Park Hee-bu, a member of another organization, said, “If they feel really sorry, they should pay a silent tribute to the victims and go back.”

Rhee In-soo, who left the cemetery surrounded by bodyguards, said, “I thought that now is the time for us to unite,” adding, “I just wanted to apologize before it was too late.”

After reading the statement of apology at the former president’s residence in Seoul’s Jongno district instead, Rhee In-soo said, “It is truly regrettable for organizations related to the April 19 revolution to reject our decision made in 51 years.”

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