Successive Donations of Artifacts from Independence Activists' Descendants to Hwaseong-si Independence Movement Memorial Hall

Poetry: The 1st Relic Donation and Deposit Ceremony Held

Since opening in April this year, the 'Hwaseong City Independence Movement Memorial Hall' in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, has continued to receive donations of relics from descendants of independence activists.

Hwaseong City announced on the 18th that it held the '1st Relic Donation and Deposit Ceremony' on the 16th at the Hwaseong City Independence Movement Memorial Hall, attended by about 80 people including citizens and related officials.

At the artifact donation ceremony at the Hwaseong City Independence Movement Memorial Hall, artifact donors are taking a commemorative photo. Photo by Hwaseong City

At the event, descendants of independence activists and Jeam-ri patriotic martyrs such as Hong Nam-hu (1871?1924, Order of Merit for National Foundation, Patriotic Medal), Hong Hyo-seon (1879?1919, Patriotic Medal), Moon Sang-ik (1893?1960, Order of Independence), An Bong-sun (1894?1919, Patriotic Medal), and Hong Hyun-ju (1883?1945, Order of Merit for National Foundation, Patriotic Medal) donated relics.

Among the donated relics were books used by Mr. Hong Nam-hu during his lifetime, photographs offering glimpses of the independence activists while alive, medals and medal certificates, and the March 1965 issue of Shindonga magazine owned by Mr. Choi Gok-young, a former principal of Bal-an Elementary School. The March 1965 issue of Shindonga contains a testimony of the March 1st Movement by Mr. Jeong Seo-song (Order of Independence, 1968), who participated in the Jang-an and Ujeong March 1st Movements.

In honor of Mr. Hoheon (1899?1920), who opened his mountain to victims of the Songsan March 1st Movement and distributed timber free of charge, residents donated a silver teapot and silver cup as tokens of gratitude.

Jung Sang-hoon, head of Hwaseong City’s Cultural Heritage Division, said, "We thank those who donated relics so that we can remember the historical value of Hwaseong’s independence movement and carry on its noble spirit. The entrusted relics will be carefully authenticated and researched to be used valuably for exhibitions and education at the memorial hall."

Located near the Jeam-ri March 1st Movement patriotic martyr site, the Hwaseong City Independence Movement Memorial Hall, which opened in April, spans from one basement floor to one above-ground floor with a total floor area of 5,310㎡. The memorial hall is equipped with a storage room, permanent, special, and children’s exhibition rooms, and educational facilities.