Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung Watch Film on General Hong Beom-do for the 80th Anniversary of Liberation
President Lee Jae-myung watched a documentary film about the independence movement with citizens, accompanied by his wife, First Lady Kim Hye-kyung.
According to the presidential office on the 17th, President Lee visited CGV Yongsan in Seoul that morning to watch the film "Independence Army: The Unfinished War."

This work reflects on the roots of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, focusing on General Hong Beom-do's anti-Japanese struggle, marking the 80th anniversary of liberation, with actor Jo Jin-woong providing the narration.
Earlier, President Lee emphasized through his social media the previous day, "Let’s remember together through the film 'Independence Army,' the light we have recovered. At the core of the prosperity and freedom we enjoy today lies the indomitable will towards liberation and the sacrifices of nameless heroes," and encouraged participation in the audience draw.
Special Screening with Citizens… Pleasant Communication Moments
On this day, around 200 people, including 119 citizens selected through prior applications, actor Jo Jin-woong, Lee Gi-young, comedian Seo Seung-man, director Moon Seung-wook, and Democratic Party legislator Park Hong-geun attended the screening.
Before the film, the president and his wife greeted citizens with handshakes and photo opportunities. When one citizen shared that only his wife was able to enter due to a lack of tickets, President Lee was captured saying to his aides, "Looks like we'll become a separated family."

When they entered the cinema holding popcorn and cola, the audience cheered, and a citizen's shout of "Could you look over here?" elicited a humorous response from President Lee, asking, "Who are you?"
After the screening, President Lee asked actor Jo Jin-woong, "When did filming start?" to which Jo replied, "It started from the previous administration." First Lady Kim shared her impression, stating, "The movie was so engaging that it felt shorter than expected."
Controversy Surrounding General Hong Beom-do and Presidential Message
This film particularly caught attention for its significant coverage of General Hong Beom-do's wartime experiences.
The Yoon Suk-yeol administration had previously attempted to relocate Hong's bust from the Army Academy, citing his ties to the Soviet Communist Party from 2023, only to abandon the plan after intense controversy, making this depiction even more noteworthy.

In his Liberation Day speech on August 15, President Lee stated, "We must break free from the divisive politics based on outdated ideologies and factional logic and create a politics of solidarity and coexistence grounded in dialogue and concessions."
Image source: youtube 'ktv imagine'