Hyochang Park, located in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, is much more than just a green space in the city; it is a site deeply intertwined with Korea's modern history. From its origins as a royal burial ground, it endured significant destruction during the Japanese occupation, was restored as a site of independence movement significance post-liberation, and faced further distortion due to political power plays. The debate surrounding the park's elevation to national cemetery status and the issue of relocating Hyochang Sports Complex raises critical questions about which historical narratives the state chooses to remember and uphold as foundational to constitutional values.

The park's troubled past began during the Japanese occupation, when the mausoleum of Crown Prince Munhyo was forcibly removed to turn the area into a golf course, a clear act of cultural and historical erasure. This was not a mere act of neglect but a carefully orchestrated campaign to obliterate the nation's spirit. After liberation, Kim Gu, a prominent independence leader, relocated the remains of several key independence activists to Hyochang Park and established a monument for Ahn Jung-geun, thereby transforming the site into a prominent symbol of the independence struggle that reflects the legal continuity of the Korean Provisional Government, as stated in the preamble of the Republic of Korea's constitution.

However, this deep symbolic legacy has faced threats from various political regimes. The Syngman Rhee administration constructed Hyochang Sports Complex right in front of the memorial site, aiming to obscure Kim Gu's legacy and the spirit of the Provisional Government. This facility, imposed with visible and auditory barriers, intended to disrupt the solemnity of the memorial area, showcasing a disturbing political intent behind its establishment. Amid discussions regarding the nationalization of Hyochang Park, some advocate for the historical significance of the sports complex, complicating the narrative. Ultimately, the push for Hyochang Park's nationalization is presented as not merely an option but a constitutional duty that reflects the essence of the nation’s history and values.