Questioning the Roots of Nation-Building... Petition for Re-evaluation of the Republic of Korea Order for Seokju Lee Sangryong

2,678 Citizens Sign Petition Submitted to Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs
Expanding Social Consensus Through Public Forum on Re-examining Achievements

The Gyeongsangbuk-do Patriots and Veterans Foundation announced that it has submitted a petition to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, requesting a re-evaluation of the independence activism of Seokju Lee Sangryong, the first Prime Minister of the Provisional Government, and the posthumous award of the nation’s highest honor, the Order of Merit for the Republic of Korea.

On July 31, the foundation delivered the petition, signed by the CEO, along with a list of signatures from 2,678 citizens, to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.

Gyeongbuk National Veterans Foundation
Photo by Byeonggeon Kwon

This petition does not merely seek an upgrade of the existing award but calls for a comprehensive re-evaluation of Seokju Lee Sangryong’s entire course of participation in the independence movement.

The foundation argued that his contributions—including presenting a vision for nation-building, establishing bases for the independence movement, fostering talent, organizing armed resistance, serving as the first Prime Minister of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, and the devotion of his entire family—should be collectively assessed as one unified achievement.

Born in Andong in 1858, Seokju Lee Sangryong participated in the Righteous Army movement and the Patriotic Enlightenment Movement. In 1911, he sold all his assets and went into exile in West Jiandao (Xigando) with his family to establish a base for the independence movement. He went on to found educational institutions such as Gyeonghaksa, Shinheung Training Center, and Shinheung Military Academy, manage the Seorogunjongseo (independence military office), unify independence factions in Manchuria, and serve as the first Prime Minister of the Provisional Government. He is thus recognized as a leading figure who laid the foundation for Korea’s independence movement.

The foundation explained that the Order of Merit for National Foundation, Independence Medal, posthumously awarded to him in 1962, was decided under the constraints of limited resources and research at the time. Therefore, a reassessment is necessary—one that incorporates the accumulated research on the history of the Provisional Government, the independence movement in Manchuria, studies on Shinheung Military Academy, the memoirs of Madam Heo Eun, and both domestic and international historical materials.

The petition outlined the main reasons for reassessment as follows: the need for a comprehensive rather than fragmented evaluation of his achievements; renewed illumination of the historical importance of the Prime Minister of the Provisional Government; the historical value of Andong’s independence movement elite; and the academic achievements that offer a systematic overview of the entire independence movement.

The foundation has also worked to create public consensus around the re-evaluation of these achievements. By operating a national petition booth, involving related institutions, securing the participation of local government heads and institutional leaders including Cheolwoo Lee, the Governor of Gyeongsangbuk-do, and conducting media outreach, the foundation collected 2,678 signatures to submit with the petition.

On August 4 at 2:00 p.m., the foundation will also hold a forum titled “Resetting the Scales of History” at the seminar room of the Career Development Center Annex at Kyungpook National University to facilitate public discussion on the re-evaluation of Seokju Lee Sangryong’s achievements.

At the forum, Professor Hwang Sun-ik of Kookmin University will present on “Re-examining Independence Meritorious Persons and the Development of the Honors System,” and Professor Kang Yun-jeong of Kyungpook National University will discuss “The Independence Movement and Historical Status of Prime Minister Seokju Lee Sangryong.” During the subsequent talk concert, which will feature experts, descendants of independence activists, youth, and local residents, participants will exchange views on the evaluation standards for independence merits, the fairness of the honors system, and the values of patriotism as seen by future generations.

Han Heewon, CEO of the Gyeongsangbuk-do Patriots and Veterans Foundation, stated, “Seokju Lee Sangryong laid the groundwork for the independence movement and safeguarded the legal legitimacy of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea as a founding leader. This petition goes beyond the award adjustment for an individual; it serves as the starting point for national discourse on how Korea remembers and honors the history and merits of the independence movement.”

He added, “Through this public forum, we hope that experts, residents, and future generations will join together to re-examine the historical significance of Seokju Lee Sangryong, and to identify ways to improve the evaluation of independence merits and the development of the honors system.”

Gyeongbuk Patriots and Veterans Foundation is submitting a petition to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs for the award of the Republic of Korea Medal to Seokju Lee Sangryong.
Photo by Gyeongbuk Patriots and Veterans Foundation

The Gyeongsangbuk-do Patriots and Veterans Foundation plans to continue cooperating with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs throughout the reassessment procedures. As a regional research hub for independence studies, the foundation will strive to further guarantee the objectivity and credibility of merit verification, and to ensure that the contributions of patriotic martyrs are recognized in a manner befitting their achievements.

The history of the independence movement is not merely a record honoring the past, but an ongoing process that shapes today’s national identity.

The debate surrounding the re-evaluation of Seokju Lee Sangryong’s achievements is not just about a single individual's decoration; it raises fundamental questions about the standards by which the Republic of Korea remembers and honors the process of nation-building and the historic significance of the independence movement.

Attention is now focused on whether this petition will serve as a starting point for establishing new standards for honoring independence patriots, grounded in historical facts and academic verification.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.