Gyeongnam Province 78th Liberation Day Commemoration... Hearing the Lives of Independence Activists from Their Descendants

Governor Park Wansu: "We Must Not Stop Conveying Historical Facts"

A Liberation Day commemorative ceremony celebrating the day our country gained independence from Japanese colonial rule was held at the Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office.

According to Gyeongnam Province, about 400 people including Governor Park Wan-su, families of independence activists, heads of veterans' organizations, and residents attended the 78th Liberation Day commemorative ceremony held on the 15th at the new building auditorium of the provincial office.

Governor Park Wansu of Gyeongnam Province and the residents are shouting "Long live Korean independence."
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

The ceremony proceeded in the order of commemorative speeches, presentation of awards to families of independence activists, congratulatory speeches, singing of the Liberation Day song, and three cheers of "Manse".

The families seated in the center front of the auditorium were all introduced via video relay, and the Presidential Citation was presented to Park Jae-hyung, the child of the late independence activist Park Jeom-su.

Kim Il-gwon, a descendant of the late Kim Mal-bok, Joo Eun-joo, a descendant of the late Joo Byeong-o, and Ahn Ja-min, a descendant of the late Hwang Man-woo, went up on stage and sang the national anthem.

Governor Park Wansu of Gyeongnam Province (left) is presenting the Presidential Citation to Park Jaehyung, the child of the late independence activist Park Jeomsu, and they are taking a commemorative photo.
[Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

Choi Ho-seong, a descendant of the late Choi Gyeong-hak who was captured after blowing up the Miryang Police Station in 1920 and executed in Daegu prison, and Lee Dong-su, a descendant of the late Lee Ho-yong who was arrested and imprisoned for leading the independence movement at the Danseong Market in Sancheong-gun in 1919, spoke about the lifetime achievements of the independence activists.

Ha Gyeong-su, a descendant of the late Ha Chan-hyun who died heroically after shouting for independence with over 3,000 protestors gathered on market day in Hamyang-eup, Hamyang-gun in 1919 and was shot by Japanese soldiers, also went up on stage to recount that historic day.

Park Wan-su, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, is delivering a commemorative speech at the 78th Liberation Day Celebration. [Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

Governor Park Wan-su said, “We have overcome every hardship and trial together by joining our strength, and have successfully achieved industrialization and democratization with great distinction,” adding, “Based on our elevated national status and prestige, we must lead Korea-Japan relations in the right direction.”

He continued, “Even as we strive to build Korea-Japan relations, we must never stop accurately remembering, recording, and passing on historical facts to future generations,” and said, “Gyeongnam Province will seek various cooperation measures with Japan and ensure that there is no neglect in remembering and honoring independence activists.”

Gyeongnam Province has been conducting research on the history of the independence movement and discovered 1,762 unrecognized independence activists in the province last year. In June, it formed the province’s first-ever “Task Force for Discovering Independence Activists and Applying for Honors,” continuing its efforts to restore the honor of independence activists.