• The Korean people established a government after liberation using the national name "Republic of Korea", but before that, they had used "Joseon" and "Daehan Guk" as their national names for centuries.
• In a broad sense, there is no need to use the term "National Foundation Day".
• The Korean people have lived on the Korean Peninsula, maintaining their own language and culture, since the period of Gojoseon.

After liberation in 1945, the Republic of Korea (ROK) was established in the southern region in 1948 due to the occupation and rule of the South and North Korean regions by the US and Soviet Union. Since then, South Korean society has been divided into conservative and progressive camps based on ideology and thought, and both political forces have alternately ruled the Republic of Korea.

Since the Park Geun-hye administration, there has been a sharp conflict between conservative and progressive camps regarding the timing and re-establishment of National Foundation Day in the Republic of Korea, which has led to extreme social division, reflected in the inclusion or exclusion of the issue in national textbooks.

In a narrow sense, it would be acceptable to use the term "National Foundation Day" to commemorate the establishment of the government in 1948, as the country began to use the national name "Republic of Korea" at that time. However, the Korean people had lived on the Korean Peninsula, using "Joseon" as their national name, long before the establishment of the government.

Unfortunately, at the end of the 20th century, due to the influence of Western powers and the Japanese invasion, the Korean people lost their national sovereignty for a time. However, ironically, they were freed with the help of surrounding superpowers and established a new government, recognizing the national name "Republic of Korea" internationally.

Therefore, in a broad sense, there is no need to use the term "National Foundation Day". This is because the Korean people have lived on the Korean Peninsula, maintaining their own language and culture, since the period of Gojoseon.

At this point, it is necessary to understand the definition of "national foundation" and which countries are representative examples. It is also necessary to understand the historical background of these countries and how they differ from the historical background of the Korean people.

For a country to be founded, it needs people, that is, a nation, and territory, and it needs to establish political, economic, and social systems that form the basis of the state.

The birth of such a nation is best exemplified by Israel. After the Roman conquest of Jerusalem (AD 70), the Jewish people were completely wiped out as a nation and scattered throughout the world, in Europe, the Americas, and other regions, until the mid-20th century. In 1948, with the help of the United Kingdom, the United States, and others, Israel was founded.

"Joseon", the predecessor state of the Republic of Korea, was a dynastic state that existed on the Korean Peninsula from 1392 to 1910 for 518 years. After its foundation, Joseon used "Goryeo" as its national name for about seven months, and "Daehan Guk" for about 13 years during its later period. In November 1392, when the Ming Dynasty demanded to know the new national name, Lee Seong-gye and the forces leading the foundation finally gathered their ministers and discussed, deciding to adopt Joseon as the new national name (February 1393).

In October 1897, the 26th King of Joseon, Gojong, declared "Daehan Guk" as the new national name and ascended the throne as Emperor after 34 years of his reign. However, people preferred the name "Daehan Empire" to "Daehan Guk". Daehan Guk ended after 13 years, in July 1910, when it was annexed by Japan. However, the name "Daehan" was passed down as the national name "Republic of Korea" after liberation from Japan and the establishment of the government in 1948. {Source: Joseon - Korean Minjok Culture Encyclopedia (aks.ac.kr)}

The Republic of Korea has now reached the top 10 in the world in terms of its economy. What is important next? The question is being asked of ourselves. Without our identity and our historical consciousness, would our nation and our people have any hope?

At this time, it is necessary to refrain from unnecessary conflicts between conservative and progressive camps due to issues such as National Foundation Day and the Lee Seung-man Memorial Hall, and to pay attention to and make efforts to inherit the continuous historical flow of the Korean people.

August 13, 2023 참길