Introducing the Donghak Revival Historic Site to the World!... Unveiling Ceremony of the 'Yeongyang Eungeo Yuheobi' Monument for Choi Sihyeong

On June 6 at 1:30 PM, Yeongyang County in North Gyeongsang Province held the unveiling ceremony for the Yeongyang Eungeobi Monument of Haewol Choi Sihyeong, who revived the trampled Donghak and made the Donghak Revolution possible. The event took place at Jasaenghwa Park in Ilwol-myeon.

Yeongyang County, where the monument unveiling ceremony for Donghak Haewol Choi Si-hyung's retreat site in Yeongyang was held.

The ceremony featured a variety of programs, including a pungmul performance and chohon-gut ritual, the offering of clean water and rice, a poetry recitation commemorating the erection of the Haewol Choi Sihyeong Eungeo Monument, a progress report on the construction of the commemorative monument, a memorial song by the Byeolbit Goeun Choir, a geommu sword dance performance, and an explanation of the monument’s inscription by Yoon Seoksan, the spiritual leader of Cheondogyo.

The area around Yonghwa-ri, Ilwol-myeon, where the unveiling ceremony was held, is significant as the place where Haewol Choi Sihyeong carried out various activities to foster the strength of the Donghak Revolution, such as reciting and copying Donghak scriptures (including the “Donggyeong Daejeon”). It is a site where the embers of the suppressed Donghak Revolution were revived, the religious order was rebuilt, and it became established as the headquarters (Daedoso), making Yonghwa-ri in Ilwol-myeon even more meaningful in the reconstruction of Donghak.

Yoon Seoksan, the spiritual leader of Cheondogyo, explained during the monument inscription commentary that “the spirit of Donghak, which overcame hardship, and the value of Yeongyang, which nurtured the seeds of revolution, are well embodied here,” inspiring pride and emotion for Yeongyang among the attendees.

County Governor Oh Dochang stated, “This is a meaningful day as we welcome back Haewol Choi Sihyeong, the second leader of Donghak who revived its suppressed embers, to Yeongyang,” and added, “I hope today’s event becomes an opportunity to enhance local pride and serves as a milestone for a world where people, as heavenly beings, respect and care for each other.”