Waited Too Long... Changwon City to Unveil Statue of Martyr Kim Ju-yeol from the March 15th Uprising on the 25th

The statue of martyr Kim Ju-yeol, installed last July but wrapped in plastic without being unveiled due to disputes over the name among related organizations.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Sang-hyun] The unveiling of the statue of martyr Kim Ju-yeol, related to the March 15th Movement, which had been indefinitely delayed due to disputes over the name among related organizations, is finally proceeding.

Changwon City, Gyeongnam Province, announced on the 20th that the unveiling ceremony of the "Martyr Kim Ju-yeol Statue," built in Sinpo-dong 1-ga, Masanhappo-gu, the site where Kim Ju-yeol's body was recovered, will be held on the 25th.

The statue construction began as part of the environmental improvement project for the site where Kim's body was recovered, designated as Gyeongnam Provincial Monument No. 277 in 2018 with approval from the Masan Port Authority.

The city expanded the viewing area, paved the ground, created a memorial wall, and installed a stage in the area, completing the statue installation last July.

The work is made of bronze and stands 5 meters tall including the pedestal. It depicts Kim Ju-yeol in a school uniform with both hands placed over his right chest, rising from the sea. It is composed of a bas-relief wall expressing the shape of the sea, 6 meters in length, among other elements.

Mayor Heo Seong-mu said, "I hope the statue of martyr Kim Ju-yeol can convey a true message of democracy," and added, "I expect the site where Kim's body was recovered to be reborn as a historic landmark."

Kim Ju-yeol disappeared while participating in the March 15th Movement during his visit to Masan to enroll at Masan Commercial High School (now Masan Yongma High School) in 1960.

Later, on April 11, his body was found floating at Masan Central Pier with a tear gas canister embedded in his right eye in a horrific state. The incident, known to have been caused by the police at the time, ignited the democratization movement.