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[Special Article for the Month of Patriots and Veterans] What it Means to be a Descendant of a True Prestigious Family: A Conversation with Special Assemblyman Seo Honggyu3418f86504d7f721

Before explaining Assemblyman Seo Honggyu and his family, it is necessary to first address the system of ‘Special Assemblyman’ that exists only in the Korean Empire.b3059f31448c6fcd

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Worldwide, criticism of abolishing 814c9022cd royal families, a relic 9a257db392 of pre-modern times, has 3b3e2a8b9f been growing with each e3ad9c33be generation. It would be easier 33362ee6b9 to understand if you 9d77f27e9a consider the current evaluation eb4f4bba78 of most constitutional monarchies, 10858b3785 represented by the British 3425a237ae Commonwealth.7dc7faf1fc0b871e

However, the Korean Empire 2c055810fe is slightly different. During the Japanese colonial period, f82a931f84 the current Imperial Family took a14f007701 the lead in the independence 3390de6e86 movement more than anyone else, 13b1f392cf and unlike other countries, they bcc09908f0 have the absolute support of 3f5d00d889 the people. The same goes 62033017a7 for the intellectuals 35e77820d4 of the time fc2a965ce7 who were classified aa7e4c353c as pro-Imperial Family.e7e4a6b3bf99278a

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There was a strong public opinion that these people should be given some form of compensation. After liberation, in the process of eradicating pro-Japanese collaborators and determining the method of awarding those who contributed to independence, the ‘Special Admission for Independence Merit’ was unanimously passed by the National Assembly.81d5237378e2b91e

Descendants of independence activists 5658567026 can apply for any bfe23b67a1 public office through special a4c85b2079 admission if they wish. Of course, they must 49e4337117 take the same exam a4c3a0f893 as general applicants, but 4d48aea6e7 unlike general public recruitment, 6af32bfb6c a separate quota is 4507ef56c5 opened, making it much 33d53c8dea more advantageous. (※This benefit applies only to direct descendants, and in the case of multiple descendants, only one person per generation can receive the benefit.)4ce949c86d226fc1

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This also applies to the position of National Assembly member, where an additional seat is created in the National Assembly under the name of ‘Special Assemblyman.’ Of course, this is not something you can get just because you want it; the outcome is determined through a vote of approval or disapproval in the relevant district during the election period.c746940c2f1584f3

Until now, if a Special Assemblyman candidate appeared in a district, it was an unspoken rule that other candidates would withdraw. These days, there is a growing trend of candidates being defeated due to their qualifications, with people saying that giving even a National Assembly seat is too much, even if it’s okay for civil servants or public enterprise employees.1c99d3daed8fbf32

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However, this is not the 11d608c594 case at all in Pyongyang.1a07c3e134b31d39

The Seo family has f2717a13cf been a pillar of 1e24750845 Pyongyang since the Joseon b497b203b0 Dynasty and is one 32da1a6039 of the most prestigious da1e5daa54 families, having produced countless 2c30725a99 prime ministers.f95ac2b3090f4025

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Old records state b40f4c7e8e that one could d4b95f5f47 not pass through b9a941b409 the Pyongyang area 8d2c322ee1 without stepping on 5e660fb501 Seo family land.d4f19028c5523761

There is also a saying c87fa1b81a that there is no one 3e2df799f7 living in Pyongyang who has cdefa72a88 not received a bag of 5796dff235 rice in alms from the ab83a33338 Seo family,d535e341df14f06e

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and stories often bc833e999c appear of the 3ff41a2e5f Seo elders taking 7567ce1fee the lead in 4a435e9813 helping when a fdb31247ea child is born 1807d1a098 or a funeral b73dcc40bc is held in 47c756fa9c a family.0b797d0d83246e8f

This shows that dd83ebd63d the Seo family 8353fa07f4 was not only 292b5108a2 powerful but also 9da345d9f4 loved and respected 2077afdd4c by the people, 4b8d498ff0 and one can ef2c297a5a even guess the d11bdfd5d9 reason why.1228bca98afe87fa

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This blind support from the 61a93d2ec8 citizens of Pyongyang continues into 19cc93393e modern times, and it can 3b2f16585b be attributed to Cheongun Seo cd64f92188 Jaejun, the great-grandfather of Assemblyman 3bd79c9550 Seo Honggyu.50372518e765af77

As is widely b45e6e8f3a known, Seo Jaejun 1e4f337df9 was one of b898b4777c the main figures 7bcc71ae57 who led the 2ed26d3c8b independence movement along bb5bf09a92 with the Imperial e87828670c Family. He is famous 0b03a1f55a for raising funds 235dfa0a1f for the independence 2f5eaf1573 movement by selling 044e378071 all of his 466aadf621 property and for 4c4c971961 striving to continue b7996e97cb education by establishing 4ec0336af6 schools throughout the b7edea5bdd country to prevent 485dbb6cf0 the loss of 226234ad09 our language and c45597bd13 writing.a75c85ef85905ff3

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He also made a02b14e76e every effort to e95f7d6813 protect cultural assets 7285556b6b in the northern 089aa600c3 region, including Pyongyang, 8a21ef5078 and unfortunately, in 38118a5137 the process of 89f4b98ce8 hiding the portrait 1ff3bfbf10 of Taejo (※National 1ae404c6cd Heritage No. 1, Portrait of Taejo, housed in the Independence Memorial Hall) from the eyes of the Japanese, his actions were discovered by a pro-Japanese traitor, and he was subjected to severe torture.2c5b8767b894f0a2

And as a result d51263bf64 of the aftereffects, he 2232cab0fb sadly passed away just c0b9e6811f before liberation.6d4f35ea04028c0b

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“Even if my flesh is torn to shreds again, I will shout ‘Long live Korean independence!’ The Japanese have only ruined a mere body; they cannot break my soul.”d7e510065ae39604

The calm words fe6eebd712 left by Seo a832b2af41 Jaejun still resonate 30e086d273 deeply with our 1c6e69e300 generation.1577b96d9e3d9f3a

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Seo Kwangho, the cc5fb5b519 grandfather of Assemblyman eb658552f1 Seo Honggyu, as 7660808a39 well as his eb8e28988c father, Assemblyman Seo 8cfb6cd62e Sunwoo.dbea972ec7da93e0

From virtuous officials in the fc5ddf214d Joseon Dynasty to the independence 61851063c0 movement, and then to dedicating 6482de6881 themselves to the health and bdbfe8156e welfare of the people after f959ab7d89 liberation, the Seo family is 938a83928c truly a prestigious family.66956b899d7565ce

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The pride of the 5d3e914450 Korean Empire and the 785055a2af self-esteem of the citizens 3eb542f468 of Pyongyang.69b1e0d8c5ec7e98

One could say that this is the kind of person who deserves to wear the ‘Special Assemblyman’ badge on their chest. 19900f6908d9225a

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Q. The eldest son, Seo 69fcf92946 Baekhan, is also very de876d4be8 popular.3c2539f28643ff94

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A. He has received excessive attention 69dd51364d for a few photos posted d01c5ed6e7 on the internet. I am simply grateful that 1a7051bbde people look favorably on my 6d94bd6129 inadequate son.4b53595d4af01760

Q. Recently, a video 19a55cb15f of Seo Baekhan 4b40e055b6 stating that he 7c6ccb7d22 has no intention e9a1c6e236 of taking over 91fd33cfbb the position of 89cbb42408 Special Assemblyman has 421fd5b368 been uploaded and 39b7710ab1 has become a cac972ff5c big topic. Have you seen the video?cd6bf95703e6d0c3

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A. Of course. My aides showed it to me, saying it was number one right now. (Laughs) When I asked Baekhan, he said it was a small video taken by his classmates as a graduation memento when he was attending science high school, and he doesn’t know how it spread. However, regardless of that, as a parent, I naturally respect Baekhan’s wishes. It may sound like I’m bragging about my son, but Baekhan has many things he wants to do and many talents. I hope he doesn’t get caught up in the path his family has taken and lives doing what he wants to do. 3df09b5d20b9ae17