○ Gyeonggi Province completes pro-Japanese culture remnant research
– Completed survey identifies 257 pro-Japanese figures (15 in cultural community), 161 monuments, 89 school songs, and 12 school symbols
○ Public project support (for 14 organizations; valued at KRW 745 million) for private sector removal of pro-Japanese cultural and artistic remnants; third public recruitment round underway
○ Project launched to create archive of pro-Japanese cultural remnants in Gyeonggi Province (record preservation)

On August 12, Gyeonggi Province announced that it is actively promoting a project launched last year to remove remnants of pro-Japanese culture. With completion slated for the end of this year, the aim of the project is to eradicate deeply rooted pro-Japanese cultural remains.

Among the related initiatives, outsourced research investigating vestiges of pro-Japanese culture was completed in April, while efforts to remove remnants of Japanese colonial rule from the culture and arts sector and to compile records of pro-Japanese cultural remnants are underway.

As part of the outsourced research on remnants of pro-Japanese culture in Gyeonggi Province, the range of region and terms pertaining to the Japanese Colonial Era in Korea have been redefined with the following investigation results: 257 pro-Japanese figures (15 cultural figures including Lee Heung-ryul, Hyun Je-myung, and Lee Kwang-soo); pro-Japanese cultural monuments (memorial and commemorative monuments); 89 school songs composed by pro-Japanese figures; and 12 school symbols depicting Japanese imperialism.

Based on the results of this research, a public contest for the private sector removal of remnants of pro-Japanese culture and arts was held so as to promote related development and utilization projects for diverse content. Fourteen organizations were selected through two public recruitment rounds and provided with KRW 745 million in support for the following ongoing projects: finding and removing pro-Japanese remnants in daily life (Gyeonggi Culture and Tourism Research Project Group); developing history education materials for the removal of pro-Japanese remnants from the arts sector (Archiprom), and producing videos on pro-Japanese remnants and anti-Japanese resistance in Gyeonggi Province. A third recruitment round is being organized to promote awareness among provincial residents.

The project to compile archives of pro-Japanese cultural remnants in Gyeonggi Province is pursuing the development of a system that records, preserves, and manages pro-Japanese cultural remnants in the form of a digital database. It is also developing a related portal service, introducing an integrated search system, and promoting related exhibitions, promotions, education initiatives, and participation. Matters pertaining to the enhancement of user access and sharing of information will be completed by the end of this year.

In addition, the provincial government is also running a public contest for new provincial songs as well as a campaign to eradicate terminology remaining from the Japanese colonial period.

Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau Director General Oh Tae-seok said, “Based on the results of the outsourced investigations and research, we will foster a consensus among provincial residents through content development and utilization projects.” He added, “We will strive to promote patriotism by moving away from the past sporadic coverage of the issue of eradicating Japanese colonial remnants and instead focusing our efforts on a campaign of continuous practice.”