'Memorial Ceremony' Honoring Patriotic Spirit of a Family with 9 Independence Activists

Selected as a 'National Participation Commemorative Project' for the 100th Anniversary of the Provisional Government Establishment

A memorial ceremony was held to honor the patriotic spirit of nine independence activists from one family.

On the 17th, according to Wanju-gun, the '12th Ilmungui Uisa Memorial Ceremony' was held at Bibong Park (Naewol-ri, Bibong-myeon) to mark the '84th Memorial Day for the Patriots and Independence Activists.' Ilmungui Uisa (一門九義士) refers to nine activists who led the anti-Japanese movement centered in Bibong-myeon, Wanju-gun, Jeonbuk.

On the 17th, the '12th Ilmungui Doctor Memorial Ceremony' was held at Bibong Park in Wanju-gun, Jeonbuk, to commemorate the '84th National Patriots Day'.
[Photo provided by Wanju-gun]

The nine activists were posthumously awarded the Order of Merit for National Foundation, Patriotic Medal, in recognition of their achievements. The Ilmungui Uisa memorial project was selected as a 'National Participation Commemorative Project' in December 2019 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the March 1st Movement and the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea.

The nine activists?Yu Junghwa (Chibok), Yu Taeseok, Yu Yeongseok, Yu Myeongseok, Yu Junseok, Yu Hyunseok, Yu Yeoncheong, Yu Yeonpung, and Yu Yeonbong?were born in Naewol-ri, Bibong-myeon, Wanju-gun.

After the Eulsa Treaty, they gathered about 100 comrades and engaged in several battles against the enemy in areas such as Geumsan, Eun-yul, and Yeonsan, leaving a righteous footprint in the history of the Korean independence movement.

This memorial ceremony was hosted by the Wanju Cultural Center (Director An Seonggeun) and organized by the Ilmungui Uisa Promotion Association (Chairman Yu Heeyeol).

About 500 people attended the event, including Yu Heetae, Wanju County Governor; Seo Namyong, Chairman of the Wanju County Council; and Son Sunwook, Director of the Jeonbuk Eastern Veterans Affairs Office. The program began with a pre-ceremony event, followed by flower offerings, incense burning, and memorial hymns to honor the sublime spirits of the patriots, culminating in three cheers for independence to renew the enthusiasm for carrying on the patriotic spirit.

Additionally, scholarships were awarded to 31 local students. To date, about 500 students have been selected. The scholarships, called the Dandelion Seed Scholarship, were initiated by Governor Yu to support the youth of the new era, remembering the help he received during difficult times.

Governor Yu stated, "With the mindset that 'a nation that forgets its history has no future,' we look back on the history of the independence movement," adding, "The first step toward a just nation lies in honoring and preserving the noble patriotic spirit of the independence activists."

Meanwhile, Governor Yu is a descendant of the Ilmungui Uisa. Until 2022, he served as chairman of the Ilmungui Uisa Promotion Association and has been carrying out projects to honor the Ilmungui Uisa. In June last year, he received the Order of the Magnolia Medal for his contributions to improving the treatment of national merit recipients.