Independence Movement Day Festivities to Change Location This Year

Starting this year, the government will hold its annual Independence Movement Day celebration at the Ryu Kwan-soon Memorial Hall at Seoul’s Ewha Girl’s High School.

The Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs stated on February 16 that the Independence Movement Day festivities would be held at Ryu Kwan-soon Memorial Hall in her alma mater Ewha Girl’s High School, as discussed by the 60th Independence Anniversary Commission under Cheong Wa Dae and the Office of the Prime Minister.

The government has held Independence Movement Day festivities each year since the opening of the Seoul Sejong Cultural Arts Center in April 1978, under the reign of President Park Chung-hee.

An official of the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs stated, “We have held the event at the Sejong Cultural Arts Center because there wasn’t a suitable alternative, but what does Sejong have to do with the Independence Movement Day?” and added that “a symbolic place was chosen to commemorate the 60th anniversary of our independence.”

The government also considered Pagoda Park and the Independence Memorial Hall for the event, but concerns over security due to its outdoor location, as well as the distance of the Memorial Hall from Seoul, excluded these options.

While some sources interpreted the government’s move as “removing the traces of the Park Chung-hee regime,” Cheong Wa Dae official denied these claims, stating that “the Ryu Kwan-soon Memorial Hall was also built during the Park regime.”

Yong-Gwan Jung yongari@donga.com