President Lee Jae-myung on the 20th ordered officials to seek ways to make Seoul's Hyochang Park, where the remains of independence patriots including teacher Kim Gu are buried, a national park. Presiding over a Cabinet meeting at the Blue House that morning, Lee asked Minister Kwon Oh-eul of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs to "study ways to turn Hyochang Park into a national park so that people can easily access it and visit with pleasure."
In his opening remarks, Lee said, "Many have been laid to rest at Hyochang Park, starting with teacher Kim Gu, and when I occasionally go there, it feels too gloomy." According to Minister Kwon, the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA) signed an agreement with the Seoul Metropolitan Government in 2019 to nationalize Hyochang Park. At the time, former Mayor Park Won-soon was in office, but after the change to Mayor Oh Se-hoon, the plan did not move forward. Minister Kwon said, "We plan to push it again after the local elections in June."
Lee said, "While the political situation may have some effect, please make sure nothing is left undone because of it." Hyochang Park in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, is home to many graves of independence patriots, including teacher Kim Gu and patriots Lee Bong-chang, Yun Bong-gil and Ahn Jung-geun.