Controversy continues as the Military Academy officially announced 안전놀이터that it will relocate the bust of General Hong Beom-do. However, as a result of JTBC’s coverage, it was confirmed that the Military Academy had already prepared a truck to move the bust out of the campus before the official announcement, that is, when it was considering whether to move it or not.
Reporter Kim Min-kwan covered the story.
[Reporter]
It was on the 25th of last month that Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop first raised the issue of the bust of General Hong Beom-do at the Korea Military Academy.
[Lee Jong-seop/Minister of National Defense (August 25th): There was a controversy over whether people with communist activities could be allowed in officer training institutions, so I understand that this was decided to be resolved during the maintenance of monuments on campus.] This remark sparked controversy over the removal of the bust
. As the situation intensified, the Ministry of National Defense came forward to provide an explanation within three days.
[Jeon Ha-gyu/Ministry of Defense Spokesperson (August 28th): The Korea Military Academy has been considering who to keep and who to transfer since last year, and as far as I know, no detailed plan has been decided yet.] However, as a result of JTBC’s
coverage , this The day before the minister’s speech to the National Assembly, it was confirmed that the Korea Military Academy had already completed all preparations for the bust relocation.
It is said that he even notified the Independence Hall of Korea that he would “relocate the bust tomorrow.”
A military official said, “The Army Corps had even prepared to move the bust using a truck.”
However, the Independence Hall of Korea refused the relocation, saying, “We have not received any information in advance.”
In relation to this, the Military Command claimed that the relocation plan was communicated in advance through the Ministry of National Defense and that “discussions were stopped during consultations between the Ministry of Veterans Affairs and Independence Hall of Korea,” but the Ministry of Veterans Affairs refuted that “there was no official request from the Ministry of National Defense.”
After controversy, the Military Academy belatedly announced on the 31st of last month that it would move the bust of General Hong Beom-do outside.