[Opinion] "On the Occasion of the 80th Anniversary of Liberation" 'Do You Remember February 14?'

Every year on February 14th, it is remembered as Valentine's Day, when loving couples exchange chocolates to confirm their love. However, it is also a day with a deeper meaning in the history of the Republic of Korea. It is the day when the protagonist of the recently released movie "Harbin," the passionate 31-year-old young hero An Jung-geun, was sentenced to death by the Japanese imperialists.

Welfare Department Kim Dae-hong.

On October 26, 1909, An Jung-geun shot Ito Hirobumi, the mastermind behind the invasion of Joseon and Japan’s first Resident-General of Korea, at Harbin Station. His act was a powerful message expressing the resentment of the Korean people suffering under Japanese imperialist oppression and announcing Korea’s will for independence to the international community. However, Japan regarded this as an act of terrorism and sent An to the Lushun Prison in China.

The following year, despite being an international incident, after six rushed trials at the Kanto Governor-General’s District Court, the Japanese sentenced An Jung-geun to death on February 14, 1910. Until his martyrdom on March 26, An proudly declared, “I am not a terrorist. I am a person who acted for the independence of my country and the peace of East Asia,” embodying the spirit of a true Korean patriot.

“...After I die, bury my bones beside Harbin Park, and when our national sovereignty is restored, please repatriate them to our homeland. Even in heaven, I will surely strive for the restoration of our country...” The remains of An Jung-geun, who sang of the liberation of his homeland even in death, have yet to be found, which is regrettable. We hope they can be brought back to the homeland soon. A memorial tomb for An Jung-geun is established at the ‘Samuisamyo Burial Site’ in Hyochang Park, Seoul.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of liberation. We must remember not only An Jung-geun but also the countless independence activists who sacrificed their lives like grass and weeds for the liberation of our country, as well as the unknown independence fighters. History that is not remembered repeats itself, and a nation that forgets its history has no future.

Wouldn’t visiting local independence movement memorial sites and remembering the lives of independence activists be the true first step toward the 80th anniversary of liberation?

On February 14th, the day the young hero who did not hesitate to face death for the liberation of the homeland was sentenced to death, we must never forget but always remember.

Kim Dae-hong, Welfare Division, Gyeongnam Eastern Veterans Affairs Office