Seokju Lee Sang-ryong seeks upgrade to Korea's highest Order of Merit

The Gyeongbuk Honoring Foundation submitted a petition to South Korea's Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs requesting that the posthumous award for independence leader Seokju Lee Sang-ryong be upgraded to the top class of the Order of the Republic of Korea, the "대한민국장". The petition is accompanied by a signature list of 2,678 citizens who support the re‑evaluation.

Lee (1858‑1932) served as the first Prime Minister (국무령) of the Provisional Government of Korea and played a key role in organizing armed resistance, education, and the exile community in Manchuria. The foundation argues that the original 1962 award was based on limited archival material and that a comprehensive review of his lifelong contributions is warranted. A public forum titled “Raising the Scales of History” is scheduled for August 4 to discuss the re‑assessment and broader issues of how independence veterans are honored.

The effort reflects a broader movement to reassess historical figures and the criteria for national honors in South Korea.