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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 Honggyud458d6b2ba11cb33

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.2f91c80909d0baca

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Worldwide, criticism of abolishing 463d82fadd royal families, a relic bc14528c84 of pre-modern times, has 20ded01c4e been growing with each bdba4761bd generation. It would be easier to d2cf41dcc8 understand if you consider the 4552fff8ff current evaluation of most constitutional 8c4da3cf59 monarchies, represented by the British ea34ed47f8 Commonwealth.617a617ee60ac7e8

However, the Korean 2daca6239b Empire is slightly 383e08254e different. During the Japanese colonial c7f99a7dfd period, the current Imperial 03716c17ed Family took the lead 38aa784caf in the independence movement 212d4cbe1a more than anyone else, 60d151df13 and unlike other countries, bd0986ac12 they have the absolute 4f833c7f4e support of the people. The same goes 95b2cadec8 for the intellectuals 5a82f4253e of the time 5aeebf719a who were classified 7c18794cc7 as pro-Imperial Family.2fb6c8734945e767

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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.9b49c6c9ca82e578

Descendants of independence activists can 9e8fea9acc apply for any public office f7fc1ef0ef through special admission if they ae70214361 wish. Of course, they 3e735180ba must take the 36d9eaeb9b same exam as 5bab16d6a8 general applicants, but 700a5df08e unlike general public b08ee5ec07 recruitment, a separate 23d5d9e4be quota is opened, f1629a0b00 making it much 4aa34c2a08 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.)9e7b611adba744ff

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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.36221dbfa64ce830

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.2ce3b7e001a4a349

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However, this is 321e293e94 not the case f3f9708dd0 at all in 9a796182ad Pyongyang.9df0f62d29f267c0

The Seo family has been d023f737cb a pillar of Pyongyang since 2458750dce the Joseon Dynasty and is 6325abd78f one of the most prestigious fb77b85f2f families, having produced countless prime 35d2217235 ministers.f3b71624bc6285e9

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Old records state that one f550319f7e could not pass through the cb93a08b20 Pyongyang area without stepping on 76d81bf87d Seo family land.a9c1b5764c08a22a

There is also a saying 40f1d71407 that there is no one 157d1710b5 living in Pyongyang who has a952632bef not received a bag of 1dcea4d3c7 rice in alms from the 159db1dc2d Seo family,02b1825205b89bcd

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and stories often 970f5389da appear of the 0421894ee8 Seo elders taking 70541d7a89 the lead in 83c8936562 helping when a 04a78c68db child is born ffd0b894ee or a funeral c3ffd44cef is held in dd8b0de13f a family.d124bcf30ab3013e

This shows that the a399d080f0 Seo family was not 86c360eeba only powerful but also 8c2176ef5d loved and respected by 70f3c89558 the people, and one 0640cc4ee9 can even guess the 9051c229b3 reason why.2a7d7f99def32992

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This blind support from the 37d0162c98 citizens of Pyongyang continues into 944715acd9 modern times, and it can 08fabbf94e be attributed to Cheongun Seo 87f1792361 Jaejun, the great-grandfather of Assemblyman 33d915937c Seo Honggyu.c01ad421bcba2ac4

As is widely dbaa46e15b known, Seo Jaejun cdfa52c222 was one of 97914bea8b the main figures e7252af5bd who led the 300aad47eb independence movement along d4aa771eaf with the Imperial 3b6aa494c3 Family. He is famous for b99e92cc03 raising funds for the b7e7b118de independence movement by selling aa1c0f9ee9 all of his property 7d8605eb3c and for striving to 49e1d2d8f2 continue education by establishing 48ae2d4ad3 schools throughout the country f1448f1ed4 to prevent the loss 9d261ba825 of our language and a0d2c87a27 writing.f58556bd039444fd

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He also made 350ceaa08f every effort to 8475660f29 protect cultural assets a89e81f61a in the northern 842fa9cbb4 region, including Pyongyang, 112e7e1ff6 and unfortunately, in a53aab02d7 the process of 2e7738cf02 hiding the portrait de423d5c52 of Taejo (※National 1458761d5a 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.0dfed2c0b7b33b45

And as a 55d469cf78 result of the 29c7d497dd aftereffects, he sadly 4f0eab0b63 passed away just 4337cf61d1 before liberation.d2dbaee64f0b98af

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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.”d076f7f7627df8e9

The calm words left 0b45bfa8f8 by Seo Jaejun still 00dcbf2186 resonate deeply with our a049dcb746 generation.8ceab0364d976901

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Seo Kwangho, the grandfather of bc7720e59f Assemblyman Seo Honggyu, as well 169e0fcbf4 as his father, Assemblyman Seo 103b543c30 Sunwoo.e61620702cb1b42b

From virtuous officials in 72e73814a4 the Joseon Dynasty to 471e05aa07 the independence movement, and 602798781f then to dedicating themselves e548de0de9 to the health and 039a19a770 welfare of the people 914aad74fd after liberation, the Seo 6adb26a497 family is truly a a12bca314a prestigious family.7cdd090a053caced

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The pride of the Korean b80b5f4683 Empire and the self-esteem of d9d04382bf the citizens of Pyongyang.007d327204cdd47f

One could say that this is the kind of person who deserves to wear the ‘Special Assemblyman’ badge on their chest. d4cb6420a7838795

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Q. The eldest son, Seo 38c2ed64ec Baekhan, is also very 383bdc067f popular.1601498adde0eae6

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A. He has received excessive 845a5e683d attention for a few ce43b074f6 photos posted on the 028cf9bbeb internet. I am simply grateful cade0b53c6 that people look favorably cac121578c on my inadequate son.3ad5771de2cf264e

Q. Recently, a video of 879306fb46 Seo Baekhan stating that d196db07ef he has no intention 25c3cdd370 of taking over the 3aac3202ab position of Special Assemblyman 7134e03779 has been uploaded and 7a1cdd1d89 has become a big bbb5744424 topic. Have you seen the video?87f1d34d423ca2bd

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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. 073294c5d62a64a0