The JoongAng Ilbo
The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History opened yesterday
in the heart of downtown Seoul. Previous memorials have only dealt with
single historical events such as independence, the Korean War and the
May 18 democratic uprising in Gwangju, or key figures such as former
presidents Park Chung-hee, Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung. The new
museum is significant in that it showcases Korean history since the
independence movement of the early 20th century. It contains exhibits of
nation building and security as well as industrialization and
democratization, providing a comprehensive and balanced view.
Among
the exhibits of particular importance are calligraphy by An Jung-geun
[1879-1910; patriotic martyr who assassinated Ito Hirobumi, then
resident-general of Korea, in 1909], the Declaration of Independence
issued on March 1, 1919, the draft Constitution written by the first
National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, journals on the April 19
Student Revolution, major documents on the five-year economic
development projects of the President Park Chung-hee government, diaries
and passports of miners dispatched to Germany in the 1960s, and Pony,
the first Korean-made car to be exported. The halls dedicated to young
labor activist Jeon Tae-il and pro-democracy struggles offer visitors an
opportunity to experience the dynamism of contemporary Korean history.
Hence the museum may well be dubbed the “Memorial to Blood, Sweat and
Tears.”
The latest presidential election was
characterized by unprecedented controversy over history. The
progressive/leftist camp criticized Park Chung-hee`s dictatorial rule.
The conservative/rightist camp emphasized Park`s economic development
and attacked the confusion created under the Kim Dae-jung and Roh
Moo-hyun administrations. Although Park Geun-hye won, it was not by a
landslide. The voters were divided into 51.6 percent vs. 48 percent,
reflecting the intense tension prevailing in society`s view of history.
Regardless
of its outcome, however, the presidential election has taught the
nation a lesson: history is an inheritance of irreversible legacies.
Park Geun-hye paid respects to the late presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh
Moo-hyun, who led opposition parties. However, her election opponent,
Moon Jae-in did not visit the graves of Syngman Rhee (Yi Seung-man) and
Park Chung-hee, for which he had to face accusations throughout his
presidential campaign that he failed to understand the bigger picture of
historical inheritance and national integration. This shows that Korean
people have broadened their views of history.
In
his congratulatory address at the museum`s opening ceremony, President
Lee Myung-bak said, “We need to learn from old and create new.” Rightly
said. Korea`s contemporary history is unique in the world in that it is a
history of unprecedented success and development. I hope that the
presidential election and the opening of the contemporary history museum
marks a turning point from which Koreans have a more positive
perception of their contemporary history.
Source: KOREA FOCUS
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