Gijang Independence Movement Memorial Association Publishes Revised Edition of Gijang Independence Movement History

County Chief Jung Jongbok: "New Focus on the History of the Independence Movement in the Gijang Area"

Gijang-gun (Governor Jung Jongbok) announced on the 5th that the Gijang Independence Movement Memorial Association (Chairman Kim Kyungho) recently completed the publication of the revised edition of the "History of the Gijang Independence Movement" and held a delivery ceremony at the Gijang County Office on the 2nd.

At the delivery ceremony, Governor Jung Jongbok of Gijang-gun, Lee Gwanghun, Head of the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Kori Nuclear Power Headquarters, and Chairman Kim Kyungho of the Memorial Association attended to celebrate the publication of the revised edition and express gratitude to those involved for their hard work.

This revised edition project was carried out this year with support from the county subsidy program and the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Ltd. Kori Nuclear Power Headquarters' operator support project.

After the first publication of the "History of the Gijang Independence Movement" in 2013, the content and format were significantly supplemented, and the publication was completed on July 30, 11 years later.

At the beginning of this year, a compilation committee was formed, centered on local historian Gong Taedo, to publish the revised edition. The committee reviewed existing materials and classified newly discovered data.

Additionally, Professor Lee Jongbong of the Department of History at Pusan National University reorganized and reviewed various materials related to the March 1st Movement in Gijang and the mass movements in the Gijang area during the 1920s and 1930s, verifying the overall content of the revised edition.

The revised edition of the "History of the Gijang Independence Movement" consists of six chapters and an appendix, totaling 540 pages. The table of contents includes: ▲Background of the Domestic Independence Movement ▲Enlightenment Movement in Gijang in the 1910s ▲March 1st Movement in Gijang ▲Mass Movements in Gijang ▲Biographical Sketches (44 people) ▲Newspaper Materials from the 1920s-30s ▲Appendix.

Since 2013, materials such as ▲Independence activists Kwon Dongsoo and Kim Jongyeop ▲Handwritten documents by independence activists ▲Anti-national materials ▲Various newspaper articles from the Japanese colonial period have been collected and included. In particular, the "Newspaper Materials from the 1920s-30s" section transcribes vertically written articles in mixed script into horizontally written Korean to aid reader comprehension, focusing on reader-friendly editing.

The appendix also contains various materials, including: ▲Copies of commendation applications for independence activists Oh Jinhwan and Park Yongseon ▲Testimony by Kwon Eunhae ▲Prison letters by Park Seyong ▲Handwritten letter by Park Insun (Park Seyong's younger sibling) ▲Handwritten manuscript by Park Segun ▲Diary of independence activist Park Gongpyo ▲Relationship chart of independence activist Kim Cheolsoo.

Furthermore, the complete revision introduced color photo inserts, hardcover binding, high-quality paper, and premium fonts to enhance readability and convenience for readers.

Gong Taedo, a local historian of Gijang, stated, "Although today our divided land is filled with longing, through this historical record, we must seek the spirit of our forebears and trace their footsteps to gain a proper understanding of our blood. It is most urgent that we renew our mindset by inheriting the will and achievements they left behind."

Governor Jung Jongbok of Gijang-gun said, "I sincerely pay tribute to everyone who devoted themselves to publishing the revised edition of the History of the Gijang Independence Movement," and added, "I expect that this publication will provide an opportunity for the history of the Gijang Independence Movement to receive renewed attention."

Jung Jongbok, Mayor of Gijang County (third from right), Lee Kwanghoon, Director of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Gori Nuclear Headquarters (third from left), and Kim Kyungho, President of the Gijang Independence Movement Memorial Association (center), along with other officials, are holding a ceremony to deliver the expanded edition of the book "History of the Gijang Independence Movement."