South Korea will standardize the birth information of independence fighter Gen. Hong Beom-do, which had been recorded inconsistently across institutions, to "August 27, 1868, Pyongyang, South Pyongan Province."
The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs announced Tuesday that it had unified Gen. Hong's date of birth and birthplace following expert consultations and discussions with related institutions.
Gen. Hong's birth information had been recorded differently by various institutions in the absence of clear official records such as family registers or court documents. The inconsistencies emerged as various historical materials flowed into Korea following the establishment of diplomatic ties with the Soviet Union and its former constituent states after 1990.
The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (through its e-Archives of Merit) listed his birthplace as unknown in North Pyongan Province, the Independence Hall of Korea listed it as Yangdeok in South Pyongan Province, and the Gen. Hong Beom-do Memorial Association listed it as Pyongyang. His birth year had been recorded variously as 1868 or 1869.
Following expert consultations and discussions with related institutions, including the Gen. Hong Beom-do Memorial Association and the War Memorial of Korea, the ministry concluded that "Pyongyang, South Pyongan Province" as the birthplace and "August 27, 1868" as the date of birth were the most credible and reasonable.
The ministry plans to share the findings with related institutions, including the Ministry of National Defense (Korea Military Academy), the War Memorial of Korea and the Independence Hall of Korea, and guide them to update their records.
"The government will continue to carefully verify the records of independence patriots so that the lives and achievements of our forebears can be fully remembered," Minister Kwon Oh-eul said.
