옛 보안사령부 본관에 ‘국가폭력 역사관’ 만들자 [왜냐면]

On July 7th, a State Apology Ceremony for Victims of State Violence took place at the Blue House's office building in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. There, the National Committee for Forced Mobilization and the Security Agency National State Violence History Commission, along with ten victim organizations, requested President Yoon Suk-yeol to transform the former Security Agency building, located at 165 Soegok-dong, Jongno-gu, into a "State Violence History Museum."

This site is significant because it has witnessed the history of the Korean Empire, Japanese colonial rule, and military dictatorship. It was once the location of the Royal Court's Office of Government Affairs during the late Joseon Dynasty, a Japanese military hospital during the Japanese occupation, and a Security Agency during the military dictatorship.

Thus, it is a symbol of the history of Korean modern history. The building was designated as national cultural heritage in 2008, and during the military dictatorship, it witnessed the signing of a photo commemorating the 12.12 coup and hosted a commemorative dinner for celebrities. The military dictatorship carried out numerous acts of state violence against citizens, students, and artists, including forced mobilization, detention, and brainwashing.

Today, the Blue House stands on the site of these state violence. When the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art was built on the site in 2013, the government did not consult with the civic society. The original building was meant to be a cultural space for the public, but the transformation of the building into a museum disregards the complex history of the site.

The committee suggests transforming the former Security Agency building into a "State Violence History Museum," not by eliminating the museum or opposing the museum and history museum, but by preserving the site of state violence and presenting the history of state violence at this location as a space for democracy. This space should serve as a specific place to educate future generations about the history of the country and the lessons learned from it.

The site no longer represents the museum alone but becomes an open space towards Korean democracy. The former Security Agency building now stands at a crossroads, deciding whether to bury the history of state violence or return it to the citizens.