Independence Hall Hosts First Planned Exhibition at USFK Base in Korea

Dr. Lee Seung-man's Letters and Materials of Teacher An Su-san Released

The Independence Hall is holding its first planned exhibition within a U.S. military base in Korea. The exhibition titled "Independence Movement with the United States" will be held at the Osan U.S. Air Force Base USO (April 20?24) and the Pyeongtaek U.S. 2nd Infantry Division and U.S. 8th Army Korean Theater of Operations Museum (April 10?May 10). To commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Korea-U.S. alliance, nineteen exhibits including victory prayer badges will be showcased.

Commemorative photo of Korean Liberation Army 2nd Unit officers and OSS agents in a Korea-US joint operation

The theme focuses on Korea-U.S. military cooperation in the 1940s. It introduces the military collaboration between the Korean Liberation Army and the OSS (Office of Strategic Services), including Operation Eagle and Operation Napko. The most eye-catching exhibit is a letter sent by the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea to U.S. President Roosevelt on December 10, 1941. This diplomatic document, sent after the outbreak of the Pacific War, states that "Korea supports the United States' participation in World War II and will stand together until the Allied forces achieve victory."

Another notable item is a letter sent by Dr. Syngman Rhee, who was promoting diplomacy with the U.S., to Preston Goodfellow on October 10, 1942. The letter mainly requests that Korean Americans in the U.S. and Hawaii be allowed to receive training from the U.S. military to conduct guerrilla warfare or enlist. The Independence Hall also exhibits rare photos of Operation Eagle provided in December 2021 by the son of Captain Clyde Sargent, the American officer in charge of OSS training, as well as materials related to Mr. An Su-san. An Su-san was the eldest daughter of independence activist Ahn Chang-ho and was the first Asian woman to serve as an officer in the U.S. Navy.

The Independence Hall stated, "We want to inform many Koreans that they fought against Japanese imperialism together with the United States," adding, "We hope this exhibition will serve as an opportunity to understand the historical experiences of both countries in resisting Japanese imperialist aggression and to strengthen friendship and cooperation."