Intelligence War Hiding 70-Ton Equipment, Secret Story of the Dissolution of the Japanese Governor-General Revealed

The Intelligence War of August 15, 1995, When a 70-Ton 'Object' Had to Be Hidden

On August 15, 1995, in the heart of Seoul, South Korea, which was celebrating the 50th anniversary of Liberation, there was a tense moment as a massive page of history turned. Baro, it was the day the project to dismantle the Japanese General-Government Building, a symbol of colonial rule during the Japanese occupation, was executed. SBS 'The Story of the Day That Bites Its Own Tail' (hereafter 'Kkokkomu') focuses on the secret operations that took place during the demolition process of the Japanese General-Government Building in this broadcast.

The testimony of Mr. Lee Ki-bon, who carried out the core mission of the project at the time, is reminiscent of an intelligence war in a movie. He revealed that until August 15, 1995, he had to hide a massive 'object' weighing as much as 70t and standing 4m high so that it would never be revealed to the outside. Since the national attention was focused on the situation and the pressure from opponents was extreme, the process of secretly operating this massive equipment was by no means an easy journey. WOODZ SHIN JI expressed surprise and empathized with how urgent the situation was at that moment.

The Japanese General-Government Building was considered the largest building in the Orient when it was constructed in 1926, and it was a symbol of Japanese imperialism that oppressed our nation for 36 years. Even after Liberation, it stood in the center of Seoul for 70 years through turbulent times, changing owners four times. When the Kim Young-sam government finally decided to dismantle this building in 1993, our society fell into immense confusion. It was a large-scale project involving a massive budget of hundreds of billions of won, and intense confrontations continued, even leading to live televised debates, as opposing opinions regarding the building's historical and architectural value were sharply divided.

The Design Intent to Twist the Axis of Gyeongbokgung Palace and the Mysterious Space Hidden Underground

The sinister design intent behind why the Japanese built the General-Government Building in that very spot in the middle of Seoul is also revealed through this broadcast. While building the General-Government Building in front of Gyeongbokgung Palace, the symbol of Joseon, the Japanese deliberately designed the axis of the building to be offset by 3.75 degrees from Gyeongbokgung Palace. This was a meticulous calculation intended to break the dignity of Gyeongbokgung Palace. SORA, participating as a listener, showed an angry reaction upon hearing this design method, saying, "How could they think of such a thing? It's so sinister."

The reaction from the Japanese side after the decision to demolish was also shocking. The number of Japanese tourists surged to catch a final glimpse before the demolition, and even the reckless remarks of high-ranking Japanese officials, who subtly justified or beautified colonial rule, were reported. SHIN JI expressed an absurd reaction to this and could not hide her anger.

Meanwhile, secret traces inside the building were discovered during the demolition process. The protagonists are the underground space equipped with drainage facilities installed in a narrow room and a solid iron door 14cm thick. It is expected that the identity of this mysterious space, which was hidden underground in the Japanese General-Government Building, will be revealed through this broadcast. WOODZ Kang Kyun-sung, SHIN JI, and SORA retrace the urgent moments of that day in 1995 while listening to the hidden side of history told by the storyteller.

SHIN JI, Kang Kyun-sung, and SORA Join as Listeners with the Storyteller

In this broadcast, WOODZ SHIN JI, WOODZ Kang Kyun-sung, and comedian SORA appear as listeners. They listen together to the secret stories of the Japanese General-Government Building demolition project delivered by the storyteller.

Mr. Lee Ki-bon, who was in charge of the core mission of the demolition work at the time, appears as a participant to personally testify to the urgent situation on site.

“How Could They Think of Such a Thing?” Angry Listeners

When it was revealed that the Japanese deliberately designed the axis of the Japanese General-Government Building to be offset by 3.75 degrees from Gyeongbokgung Palace to break its dignity, SORA, participating as a listener, pointed out, “How could they think of such a thing. It's so sinister.”

Upon hearing the news that Japanese tourists surged after the decision to demolish, WOODZ SHIN JI showed an absurd reaction. When the reckless remarks of Japanese high-ranking officials subtly justifying colonial rule were reported, all the cast members could not hide their anger.

70th Anniversary of Liberation, Records of August 15, 1995

SBS 'The Story of the Day That Bites Its Own Tail' (hereafter 'Kkokkomu') covers the full story of the Japanese General-Government Building demolition project carried out on August 15, 1995. This broadcast highlights the historical moment that took place in the middle of Seoul during the 70th anniversary of Liberation.

The Japanese General-Government Building remained in the center of Seoul for 70 years after its construction in 1926. When the Kim Young-sam government decided on its demolition in 1993, our society experienced intense confrontation, with opposing opinions being so sharply divided that even live televised debates were held.