Issuance of Commemorative Stamp for the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Bongodong Victory

[Asia Economy Reporter Junho Hwang] The Korea Post Office under the Ministry of Science and ICT will issue 688,000 commemorative stamps on the 5th to mark the 100th anniversary of the victory in the Battle of Bongodong, one of the first and greatest victories in Korean independence movement history.

The Battle of Bongodong was a battle that gave hope to our people suffering under Japanese oppression that armed struggle could achieve independent sovereignty. It served as a catalyst for the active independence wars in the 1920s.

The commemorative stamp features "General Hong Beom-do's Battle of Bongodong," an oil painting by Western-style painter Im Jik-soon (1921?1996), held at the Independence Hall of Korea.

The independence army led by General Hong Beom-do crossed the Tumen River at dawn on June 4, 1920, entered Gangyang-dong, Jongsong County, Hamgyeongbuk Province, defeated the Japanese military police, and returned to Samdunja, Wolsingang, Hwaryong County. The 'Samdunja Battle,' a preemptive attack on the Japanese army, can be considered a preliminary battle of the Battle of Bongodong. When the Japanese army, in pursuit, failed to find the independence army units, they massacred innocent civilians. In response, the independence army launched a surprise attack on the Japanese forces and won.

Upon hearing the news of defeat, the Japanese 19th Division headquarters formed the 'Wolgang Pursuit Unit' and launched a campaign to annihilate the independence army. Three days after the Samdunja Battle, the combined independence army led by General Hong Beom-do lured the Japanese army into Bongodong, known as the Valley of Death, and won the battle. According to the 'Dongnip Sinmun' (The Independent Newspaper) at the time, the Japanese army suffered 157 deaths and about 300 injuries. The independence army's casualties were only 4 dead and 2 seriously wounded.

Park Jong-seok, head of the Post Office, said, "Through the issuance of this commemorative stamp, we hope to remember the independence army who strived to preserve national identity and to reflect on the significance of the Battle of Bongodong, which instilled hope and faith in independence."