The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs reported to the National Assembly's Legislation and Judiciary Committee on the 23rd that it will complete the transformation of Hyochang Park into the National Hyochang Independence Park within the Lee Jae-myung administration's term.
The ministry plans to establish a master plan for creating the National Hyochang Independence Park, taking the opportunity of UNESCO's designation of a commemorative year marking the 150th anniversary of Kim Ku's birth. The plan calls for amending the National Cemetery Act within this year, beginning park construction next year, and completing the project by 2030.
Hyochang Park, located in Hyochang-dong, Yongsan-gu, spans approximately 171,000 square meters. The site originated as a royal burial ground during the Joseon Dynasty and became a cemetery for independence activists after Korea's liberation.
The park houses the graves of major independence patriots including Kim Ku, Lee Bong-chang, and Yoon Bong-gil, as well as various facilities such as Hyochang International Soccer Stadium and the Kim Ku Memorial Hall. However, the aging facilities and fragmented management have prevented orderly maintenance.
The ministry plans to elevate the graves of major independence patriots including Kim Ku, Lee Bong-chang, and Yoon Bong-gil to national cemetery status through the revision of the National Cemetery Act. It also plans to designate a ceremonial grave for independence activist Ahn Jung-geun as a national cemetery, expressing the government's commitment to recovering his remains.
Coordination with relevant agencies including the Seoul Metropolitan Government remains a future task.
Despite multiple discussions since the 2000s about converting the park to a national park, the project had stalled due to residents' concerns over development restrictions. The initiative regained momentum last month when President Lee Jae-myung issued a directive during a Cabinet meeting.
Additionally, the ministry reported to the National Assembly plans to create a "patriot belt" connecting seven nearby independence movement historical sites centered on the Korean Provisional Government building in Shanghai, including the Yoon Bong-gil Memorial Hall, the Provisional Government officials' residence (Yeongyeongbang), and Wanguo Cemetery. The ministry also reported plans for public verification of candidates for the Independence Hall of Korea's executive positions.