Yongsan-gu Creates '120th Birth Anniversary' Ham Seok-heon Memorial Park... Part of Project to Correct District History; Park, Monument, and Tiled Wall Built Near Teacher's Former Home Site... Nearby Road Named Honorary 'Ham Seok-heon-gil'
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] “The path of life is never at your toes but far ahead. It is not on the ground but in the sky. It is not in what exists now but in what is to come. It is not in what is seen but in reason. It is not in strength but in spirit.”
- Ham Seok-heon, from ‘Revolutionize Yourself’
Yongsan-gu (District Mayor Seong Jang-hyun) has created the ‘Ham Seok-heon Memorial Park’ near the site of the late Ham Seok-heon’s old house in Wonhyo-ro 4-ga (Sancheon-dong street rest area, Sancheon-dong 30-3) to commemorate the 120th anniversary of his birth.
This is part of the district’s project to set the record straight on local history.
The park covers an area of 482㎡ and is divided mainly into the Ham Seok-heon memorial space and a children’s playground.
In the Ham Seok-heon memorial space, a traditional tiled wall borders the road (16.5m), and plaques detailing the teacher’s biography and activities are attached to the wall.
Additionally, a monument inscribed with the phrase ‘Revolutionize Yourself’ written by Ham Seok-heon was erected, and the existing pavilion facility was utilized to hang a signboard reading ‘Ssi-al-ui Sori’ (Voice of the Seed). A lawn and granite benches were also installed.
To the right of the memorial space, the children’s playground features a train-shaped play structure, rocking horses, fitness equipment, and stone benches. The ground is covered with elastic rubber to ensure children can play safely.
The total budget was 230 million KRW, funded by the 2021 district resident participation budget.
A district official said, “Right in front of the memorial park is the site of the late Ham Seok-heon’s old house and a public daycare center. Children, parents, and local residents will be able to naturally learn about the teacher’s spirit, philosophy, and achievements while using the park.”
Ham Seok-heon was born on March 13, 1901, in Yongcheon, Pyeonganbuk-do. He was expelled from Pyongyang High School for participating in the March 1st Movement in 1919 and transferred to Osan School in 1921. In 1923, he went to Japan to study at Tokyo Higher Normal School, where he adopted the ‘Non-Church’ faith under the influence of Japanese thinker Uchimura Kanzo.
After returning to Korea, he worked as a history teacher at Osan School, nurturing younger generations, but resigned in 1938 due to Japanese colonial pressure and forced Japanese language education. He later ran the Songsan Agricultural Academy, experimenting with community development. He was also involved in the ‘Gyeuhoe’ (an independence movement group of Korean students at Tokyo University’s Faculty of Agriculture) incident and was imprisoned twice.
After liberation, he served as the head of education for the Pyeongbuk Autonomous Committee and moved south in 1947, conducting Bible lectures. In 1956, he established a residence at 70 Wonhyo-ro 4-ga, Yongsan-gu, where he began writing for the magazine ‘Sasang-gye.’ In 1961, he openly confronted the military regime with his article ‘How Should We View May 16?’
In 1970, marking the 10th anniversary of the April 19 Revolution, he founded the progressive critique magazine ‘Ssi-al-ui Sori’ at his home. After moving to Ssangmun-dong, Dobong-gu in 1982, he devoted himself to democracy and human rights activism until his death at age 88 in 1989. He was nominated twice for the Nobel Peace Prize by the American Quaker headquarters in 1979 and 1985.
Earlier this year, the district reaffirmed Ham Seok-heon’s achievements during a local history documentation project in the Wonhyo-ro 1 and 2-dong areas. In May, Yongsan Cultural Center and the Ham Seok-heon Memorial Association discussed plans for the memorial space, and construction took place over three months starting in June.
Along with the park’s creation, the district also designated the nearby road (Hyochangwon-ro 12-gil 1~18, 106m) as ‘Ham Seok-heon-gil’ honorary street name. The honorary street name is valid from October 15, 2021, to October 15, 2026, for five years, with possible extensions thereafter.
Seong Jang-hyun, mayor of Yongsan-gu, said, “Ham Seok-heon was a leading thinker and human rights activist representing 20th-century Korea. He lived in Yongsan for a long time, writing for ‘Sasang-gye’ and founding ‘Ssi-al-ui Sori,’ accomplishing many things.” He added, “We will reexamine the life of this modern historical figure and upgrade the district’s project to set the record straight on local history.”
Since 2011, the district has carried out various historical projects, starting with the memorial rites for seven patriots at Hyochang Park’s Uiyeolsa Shrine. Notable projects include the establishment of a memorial for Yu Gwan-sun in 2015, the permanent opening of Uiyeolsa Shrine in 2016, memorial events for An Jung-geun in 2017, installation of 100 historical and cultural landmark signs in 2019, and the opening of the Lee Bong-chang History Echo Hall in 2020.
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