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August 15th is a national holiday Liberation Day (광복절). On August 15th, 1995, President Kim Young-sam marked the occassion by beginning the demolition of the old Seoul Capitol building.
In August that year he announced that it would be demolished beginning in 1995, the 50th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and with it Japanese colonial rule, as well as the 600th anniversary of Gyeongbokgung. Plans were announced for a new National Museum. There was intense public debate on the issue, with Kim and other demolition proponents arguing that the building was a symbol of Japanese rule that had been built deliberately to deface Gyeongbokgung. Opponents countered that Korea, now a wealthy land, was no longer troubled by such symbolism, and that reminders of the Japanese era were needed; many opposed the move on the grounds of the expense incurred, and the merit of the existing building. (Other Japanese-era buildings, such as the old Seoul Station, and Seoul City Hall, are considered landmarks of the city.) A proposal was made to move the building to a new site, although this would have been far more expensive than demolition.
6 comments:
I guess I'm naive enough to wonder, why BUDDHIST monks would want to publicize their nationalist bona fides on the occasion of a political holiday.
Buddhists...Christians...cretins!
It is the mark of maturity to hold onto historical heritage whether it symbolizes good or bad in one's history. The demolition of that building showed lack of cultural maturity. Yes, it may be a painful reminder of Japanese rule, but there were positive things that happened in that building, too.
Taiwan, a former Japanese colony, did not raze large buildings built by the Japanese. The Taiwanese, for example, president occupies the former Japanese governor-general residence.
In China, many buildings in Shanghai, Harbin, and other cities that were built by Western and Japanese imperialist "vultures" who were feeding off China after the Boxer Rebellion are still standing.
In Germany, there are many buildings built by the Nazis still standing. For example, the Air Ministry Building on Wilhelmstrasse, which was barely touched by war, contained Hermann Goering's offices. The Federal Ministry of Finance now occupies that building. That building is a stark reminder of the Nazi regime, a reminder not just for the German people but for all of us.
Seoul has been criticized for the lack of interesting historical architecture in the city. Yes, there are the palaces, but what is left? Seoul has energy and dynamism, but it contains very few grand and attractive buildings one would expect in an emerging economic power.
P.S. "Radical Contra", I resent you generalizing and demonizing people of faith. Yes, I think these monks have discredited themselves, but you have discredited yourself by the blanket characterization of whole groups. There are good and bad Buddhists out there. There good and bad Christians out there. There are good and bad atheists out there, too. Grow up.
What the fuck. I guess the fence was put up by Japanese Buddhists to keep out the Korean Buddhists.
What's next--are they going to go around the country to uproot Japanese Cherry Trees?
Keith: In Germany, there are many buildings built by the Nazis still standing.
spot on. And they're also the concentration camps.
Chill, Keith! Stuff the cheap shot!
I capitalized BUDDHIST to highlight how a small group of photo-op craving zombies could so undermine the potentially universal message of their own religion, which does have some compelling arguments and - not in this photo - encourages some decent human behavior. I'm aware there are good and bad people; there are no good Christians, Buddhists, atheists, or citizens in whatever nationalistic pigeon-hole one may place them. Defining and evaluating people by their beliefs is EVIL. These individuals are just cretins twice over, and, if you want to regiment individuals into acceptable organizations and beliefs, so are you.
Designating acceptable and unacceptable modes of "historical heritage" us no better than what these monks did: act this way, not that way! The monks are even more insidious spokesmen for herding individuals into tribes than their religious organization. You are just more secular, however scrupulous and opportunistic not to alienate other groups for your platform.
So what? Korea was primary target of Japanese imperialism due to the cultural similarities and the proximity from Japan. Not to mention Korea was illegally occupied by Japan that add more insult to the injury. Also, Koreans have the rights to oppose Japan because the American and the bad elements of the early South Korean governments approved "chinilpa" oligarchs to rule Korea (well, the southern half) again.
As for this article, I don't mind the monks tearing down the stone structure because Korean Buddhism emphasis more with nature. Of course, almost all of the Korean temples are located in the mountain area and look very aesthetically humble.
//Seoul has been criticized for the lack of interesting historical architecture in the city.//
Thank the illegal war called the Korean War and the past Japanese colonialism.
//Taiwan, a former Japanese colony, did not raze large buildings built by the Japanese.//
Japanese colonialism was centered mainly on Korea, not Taiwan. This is why Taiwanese today don't take offense against Japan because the occupied Taiwan was unusually peaceful compare to the occupied Korea.
Japanese Imperial government treated its several important colonies quite differently that many Westerners forget.
"Thank the illegal war called the Korean War and the past Japanese colonialism."
The war didn't destroy everything. Just as the Japanese willfully tore down many beautiful historic buildings in Kyoto, Koreans have willfully destroyed historical buildings. You can't blame foreigners for that.
"This is why Taiwanese today don't take offense against Japan because the occupied Taiwan was unusually peaceful compare to the occupied Korea."
There was plenty of oppression under Japanese rule of Taiwan. Taiwanese are probably less resentful towards Japan today because the memory of Nationalist Chinese atrocities on the island are much fresher.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/228_Incident
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