The Independence Hall Museum is preparing a special exhibition called ‘Special Exhibition’ to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Korea’s independence, focusing on industrialization and democratic development rather than the independence movement from the Japanese colonial rule period. The museum plans to spend about 9 billion won to hold the exhibition from August to November 2025, showcasing the history of Korea’s development after liberation and reflecting on the country’s future.
Critics, including Cheon Jun-ho, a member of the National Assembly’s Political Affairs Committee, question the museum’s emphasis on post-liberation history rather than the anti-Japanese independence movement. They are concerned that the exhibition may not properly commemorate the 80th anniversary of independence.
Kim Hyung-seok, the museum’s director with a controversial history of supporting the ‘1948 National Founding Day’ and downplaying the significance of the independence movement, is at the center of the controversy. Critics are suspicious of his intentions and plan to slash the related budget during the parliamentary budget review process.
Despite the criticism, museum officials defend the exhibition as part of a strategic plan proposed earlier this year, emphasizing that it covers a range of subjects beyond the post-liberation era.
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