"Let's Pass on the Spirit and Pride of the Patriotic Martyrs to Future Generations"… The 84th Patriotic Martyrs' Day Ceremony Held in Gwangju

On November 17, 1905, the day the Eulsa Treaty was forcibly signed, a commemorative ceremony for the Day of the Patriotic Martyrs was held in Gwangju to remember the spirit of independence and sacrifices of the patriotic martyrs who devoted themselves to restoring national sovereignty, and to pass on their spirit and achievements to future generations.

On the 17th, the '84th Memorial Day for the Patriots' Ceremony' is being held at the auditorium of Gwangdeok High School in Seo-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City.
[Photo by Min Hyun-gi]

On the 17th, the Gwangju branch of the Liberation Association held the '84th Day of the Patriotic Martyrs Commemoration Ceremony' at 10 a.m. in the auditorium of Gwangdeok High School in Seo-gu, Gwangju.

About 200 people attended the ceremony, including Ko Wook, head of the Gwangju branch of the Liberation Association, Jeong Hong-sik, head of the Gwangju Regional Veterans Affairs Office, Song Gap-seok, member of the National Assembly from the Democratic Party, and students from Gwangdeok High School.

The event was divided into two parts. In the first part, the opening ceremony, national anthem, historical report, awards for independence patriots, commemorative speeches, memorial speeches, singing of the Patriotic Martyrs' song, and three cheers of "Manse" were held.

Especially in the second part, a special lecture and performances were held, capturing attention. The event was hosted by voice actor Jeong Mi-sook, and the stage was illuminated by musical actor Kim Seong-gi, who played Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha; haegeum player Lee Yoo-ra, who leads crossover music by blending traditional music with various genres through the haegeum; and Moon Soo-jung, a designated Important Intangible Cultural Property No. 23 holder of Gayageum Sanjo and Byeongchang, who is active in a wide musical world crossing traditional and fusion genres as the main singer of the traditional and fusion gugak CCM and traditional gugak team Aurum.

Ko Wook, head of the Gwangju branch of the Liberation Association, said in his opening remarks, "Many people know that the spirit tablets of Japanese war criminals are enshrined at the Yasukuni Shrine in Japan, but few know that the spirit tablets of our country's patriotic martyrs are enshrined at the Patriotic Martyrs Shrine in Seodaemun Independence Park," emphasizing, "Humans have the right to forget, but they also have the human duty not to forget."

Jeong Hong-sik, head of the Gwangju Regional Veterans Affairs Office, said, "Remembering and honoring the patriotic martyrs is about informing future generations of their roots and passing on pride and self-esteem," adding, "The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs will honor patriotic figures, including General Hong Beom-do, with the highest respect without any negligence."