The city of Cheonan conducted a public opinion survey on the use of the name “Independence Hall” and announced on the 3rd that the majority of people oppose the opening of other regional halls using the name. The survey was conducted by a professional agency and involved 1,001 citizens aged 18 and older nationwide. The results showed that 56.5% of respondents were against the use of the Independence Hall name in other regions. Among those who opposed, 51.1% cited the “damage to the symbolism of the existing Independence Hall built with national donations,” followed by concerns of potential confusion if the name were to be widely used (36.7%), and the belief that the Independence Hall should be free from ideological controversies (11.1%).
Additionally, when asked if they viewed the Independence Hall in Cheonan as a symbol of the nation’s independence movement, 96.1% of respondents agreed. Cheonan city plans to use these survey results to guide their policy direction regarding the Independence Hall and enhance their response strategies. Prior to the survey, the city submitted a proposal to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs to protect and enhance the symbolism and representation of the Independence Hall in Cheonan, which is known as a sacred site for the independence movement in South Korea.
The mayor of Cheonan, Park Sang-don, expressed regret over announcements to build second and third Independence Halls and emphasized the irreplaceable cultural heritage of the existing hall. He stated that the city would continue to strive to preserve the profound values of the Independence Hall. The survey was conducted via phone from the 14th to the 18th of last month, with a sample error margin of ±3.2% at a 95% confidence level.