Governor Park Wansu of Gyeongnam: "Thanks to the Patriotic Martyrs, Gyeongnam Exists Today"

Respect for Independence Patriots Reemphasized at 79th Liberation Day Ceremony

To commemorate Liberation Day, which marks the restoration of light after overcoming 35 years of darkness during the Japanese colonial period, Gyeongsangnam-do held the 79th Liberation Day Celebration Ceremony on the morning of the 15th at the Changwon Convention Center (CECO) Convention Hall.

More than 500 people, including bereaved families of independence patriots, members of 12 veterans’ organizations such as the Gyeongnam branch of the Liberation Association, and local residents attended the ceremony, waving the Taegeukgi and shouting “Long live Korean independence!”

The 79th Liberation Day celebration hosted by Gyeongsangnam-do was held at the Convention Hall of Changwon Convention Center in Gyeongnam.
Photo by Lee Seryung

Governor Park Wansu said, “We have prepared various special exhibitions and celebratory performances to share the historical and regional significance of liberation with the residents and to connect our hearts,” adding, “I hope that through this ceremony, we can reflect on the meaning of liberation, which allowed us to regain the bright light after passing through the long, dark tunnel of the Japanese colonial period.”

He also stated, “Under the 8th popularly elected administration, Gyeongnam has laid the foundation for a new leap forward, recording the highest export growth rate, the lowest unemployment rate, and the highest employment rate since statistics began.”

He continued, “In May, we opened the Aerospace Administration, the first central government agency in Gyeongnam, and are working toward the goal of landing on Mars by 2045, the centennial of liberation. The current prosperity and glory of Gyeongnam are thanks to the sacrifices of our patriotic ancestors.”

Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongnam Province, is delivering a commemorative speech at the 79th Liberation Day Celebration held at Changwon Convention Center. Photo by Lee Seryeong

Governor Park added, “Last year, we were the first local government to discover 24 independence activists who had not yet received national honors from the United States, and this year, we identified 40 additional independence activists from the Changwon Heukwoo League, an anti-Japanese organization during the colonial period, and applied for their national honors. Properly honoring those who dedicated themselves to the safety of the nation and community is, in itself, the core value of welfare, companionship, and hope for the second half of the Gyeongnam administration.”

This year’s celebration focused on honoring independence patriots and encouraging the participation of their families, and proceeded in the order of commemorative address, awarding of commendations, congratulatory speech, singing of the Liberation Day song, and three cheers for independence.

A video was also shown in which the family members of independence activists directly shared the achievements of their relatives who gave their lives for the country during the Japanese colonial period.

Kim Byunggi, son of the late independence activist Kim Youngbok, is on stage sharing stories about his father.
[Photo by Lee Seryeong]

Kim Byungki, son of the late Kim Youngbok, who formed a secret society and published the clandestine magazine “Firefly” containing the spirit and ideals of its members and was subsequently imprisoned, took the stage and shared his father’s story.

There were also performances by the Gimhae City Boys and Girls Choir, featuring folk songs on the theme of liberation, and a musical by the Provincial Arts Troupe.

The Presidential Commendation for merit was awarded to Kim Geonteuk and Ha Girak, while the Order of Merit for National Foundation was presented to Jeon Youngchang.

Governor Park Wansu of Gyeongnam Province (left) presented a commendation for independence activists to the family of Mr. Kim Geontuk. Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government

In 1930, Kim Geonteuk, together with Kim Daekeun, wrote about 200 documents bearing slogans such as “Long live Korean independence” and “Japan will fall” in Yesan, Chungnam, and distributed them throughout the town. He was arrested by Japanese police and sentenced to four months in prison with three years of probation.

In December 1929, Ha Girak, then a third-year student at Gyeongseong Second High School in Seoul, participated in a student strike and was suspended indefinitely. In February 1939, while a freshman at Waseda University in Tokyo, he was arrested and imprisoned for delivering a speech to the Korean Students’ Alumni Association to inspire national consciousness.

In the spring of 1940, Jeon Youngchang, while attending Shinho Central Seminary in Kobe, Japan, organized a secret society for Korean independence with fellow students, promoted national consciousness, and discussed strategies for independence. He was arrested by Japanese police and sentenced to two years in prison with five years of probation.

Jung Seungsook, a descendant of Kim Geonteuk, said, “I never expected this, but I am grateful that my maternal grandfather has been recognized as an independence patriot.”

Jeon Seongeun, son of Jeon Youngchang, who became the second generation in his family to be recognized as an independence patriot after his grandfather, and Ha Youngseon, son of Ha Girak, an independence activist from Hamyang, also expressed, “We feel joy and pride.”

The Gyeongsangnam-do Archives Liberation Records Exhibition "When That Day Comes, August 15, 1945" was displayed in front of the Convention Hall at Changwon Convention Center, where the 79th Liberation Day Celebration Ceremony was held.
Photo by Lee Seryeong

Gyeongnam Province plans to continue the Gyeongsangnam-do Archives Liberation Exhibition, “When That Day Comes, August 15, 1945,” which was showcased at the celebration venue, at the Provincial Government Building and the Gyeongsangnam-do Archives.

The exhibition will be held at the Provincial Government Building from August 16 to September 12, and at the Gyeongsangnam-do Archives from September 19 to October 31.

The exhibition is divided into four parts: Part 1 “When That Day Comes,” Part 2 “The Day the Light Was Restored, That Day Arrived,” Part 3 “Realizing That Day, August 16, 1945,” and Part 4 “Afterwards: Liberation Day Events in Korea and Gyeongnam,” presenting various historical materials documenting that day.