[EDITORIAL]An unclaimed medal

Yeo Un-hyeong, an independence activist also known as a center-left political leader, was assassinated in 1947 in the social and political confusion following liberation from Japanese colonial rule. Amidst the continuing controversy over a national medal posthumously awarded to him, we wonder how the eloquent patriot himself would react if he were still living.

Not a word of thanks came from his daughter Yeo Won-gu, now holding an esteemed public position in North Korea. She declined to receive the Presidential Medal of the Order of National Foundation Merit, which carries a 1.2 million won monthly allowance, complaining that the South Korean government is not correctly assessing the services of her father, according to a Pyongyang radio report. She demanded that the Seoul authorities first uncover the conspiracy of Americans in the assassination and kick them out of the country.

Considering the special circumstances in the communist North, the reaction from Ms. Yeo, chairperson of the central committee of the "National Unification Democratic Front," can be viewed as the official response from the North Korean government. One reason for the rejection must be that accepting the South Korean government medal would mean the recognition of the Seoul government, still considered an illegitimate regime despite all the exchanges and contacts with it these past years.

Or Pyongyang may not be satisfied with the level of the decoration, which is second class, below the Republic of Korea Medal. In fact, Yeo`s relatives in the South also complained that he was being unfairly assessed because of his leftist inclination and requested that he be given equal treatment as Kim Gu and Kim Gyu-sik.

At the same time, the conservative society in South Korea protests that a number of leftists, including Yeo, were given government recognition for their independence activities despite their negative role against establishment of a liberal democratic government here. The second-class medal for Yeo was thus seen as a compromise.

Putting aside the class issue, the posthumous decoration of Yeo was a significant step in the present administration`s reevaluation of modern history to embrace all patriotic elements from different ideological hues while uncovering anti-national activities hidden behind official tolerance by early undemocratic rule. Though belated, Yeo`s efforts to bridge the rightist and leftist movements following the liberation have been officially recognized in the South. We regret that Pyongyang failed to appreciate the Seoul government`s sincerity.