Remembering Commander Seo Byunghee
Honoring His Sacrifice and Patriotism
Passing Down the Spirit of Independence
A memorial ceremony for Seo Byunghee, a righteous army commander and anti-Japanese independence activist from Yangsan, Gyeongnam, was held on May 2 at the Dalseong Seo Clan Memorial Park, with about 200 people in attendance, including family members and heads of various organizations and institutions.
This memorial ceremony was organized by the Left Sammun branch of the Dalseong Seo Clan to remember and honor the sacrifice and patriotic spirit of Commander Seo Byunghee. The ceremony included a mountain spirit ritual, a memorial service for the deceased, an unveiling of the tombstone, a reading of the inscription, and memorial speeches.
Commander Seo Byunghee, born in Yangsan?a region renowned for its loyalty and integrity?was an independence activist who played a pivotal role as a righteous army leader in Gyeongsang Province during the Korean Empire period. With outstanding strategy and leadership, he laid the foundation for the anti-Japanese resistance movement.
Until his arrest by Japanese police, Commander Seo Byunghee devoted his life to restoring the sovereignty of his homeland. His dedication continues to leave a deep impression on our hearts today. In recognition of his noble contributions, the government posthumously awarded him the Order of Merit for National Foundation, Independence Medal, in 1990.
After his death, the whereabouts of his remains were unknown. However, it was later discovered that a righteous army family, who had also dedicated themselves to the independence movement alongside Commander Seo Byunghee, had carefully maintained his grave for many years. While verifying the facts and recovering the remains, a natural stone tombstone engraved with "Daeseong 6th year, April, Commanded, Marshal Seo Byunghee, Grave, Cham Valley" was found buried at the site. Following proper procedures, the grave was relocated to the clan’s ancestral burial ground.
In his memorial address, Yangsan Mayor Na Dongyeon said, "We are proud of Commander Seo Byunghee’s courage and determination, which ignited the spark of the struggle to defend national sovereignty. I hope he may rest in peace in his hometown, and that this will serve as an opportunity to pass on his fervent patriotism to future generations."
Seo Chun-gye, president of the Left Sammun branch of the Dalseong Seo Clan, stated, "Through this memorial ceremony, I hope that Commander Seo Byunghee’s sacrifice and passionate patriotism will once again be remembered by many people."
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