Japanese hotel to remove monument to colonial-era Korean independence activist

A hotel in southwestern Japan has announced its decision to remove a monument dedicated to a prominent Korean independence activist from the colonial era. The monument, honoring Jang Jun-ha, was erected in 2015 at the Hotel New Oriental in Kitakyushu City. The hotel stated that the removal is due to the monument's association with political and ideological disputes, aiming to avoid causing discomfort to its guests. Jang Jun-ha was a key figure in the Korean independence movement against Japanese colonial rule and later became a prominent democracy activist in South Korea.

The removal highlights ongoing sensitivities surrounding historical interpretations of Japanese colonial rule and its impact on Korean independence movements.