311 Honored as Independence Activists, Including American Mrs. Fitch Who Aided Provisional Government Escape

In commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day, more than 300 individuals, including Mrs. Geraldine Fitch (Order of Merit for National Foundation, Independence Medal), an American who assisted key members of the Korean Provisional Government in escaping, will be honored as independence activists.

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs announced on the 13th that, in celebration of the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day, it will award 311 people as independence activists. This includes Mrs. Fitch, an American who helped key members of the Korean Provisional Government escape in Shanghai, China in 1932, as well as Kim Sulgeun (Order of Merit for National Foundation, Patriotic People’s Medal), who led the independence movement both in Korea and the United States and volunteered to serve in the U.S. military during the Pacific War.

On the 14th, a day before the 79th Liberation Day, at the Independence Hall in Cheonan, Chungnam.
Photo by Kang Jinhyung aymsdream@

In April 1932, Mrs. Fitch assisted Kim Koo and other key members of the Provisional Government in escaping from Shanghai, China, when they were at risk of being arrested by Japanese authorities following the Yoon Bonggil incident. It has also been confirmed that Mrs. Fitch continued to support the Korean independence movement in the United States during the 1940s. Her husband, George Ashmore Fitch, who aided in the escape of Provisional Government members alongside her, was recognized for his contributions to the independence movement and was awarded the Order of Merit for National Foundation, Independence Medal, in 1962.

Kim Sulgeun, originally from Daedong County, South Pyongan Province, participated in the Declaration of Independence ceremony at Pagoda Park in Seoul in 1919 while studying at Yonhee College. He then led a pro-independence demonstration outside the park, for which he was arrested and sentenced to six months in prison. Later, he studied abroad in the United States, and when the Pacific War broke out, he volunteered for the U.S. military for the purpose of supporting the independence movement and served as a sergeant.

This round of honors for independence activists was based on the discovery, collection, and analysis of various documents such as court rulings and prison records by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. In particular, 62 participants in the March 1st Movement from Jeongsan-myeon, Cheongyang-gun, Chungcheongnam-do were recognized as independence activists thanks to ongoing efforts to uncover and collect materials, including the "Register of Criminals."

Among the 311 honorees for this year’s 80th Liberation Day, 71 will receive the Order of Merit for National Foundation (2 Independence Medals, 13 Patriotic Medals, and 56 Patriotic People’s Medals), 22 will receive the Order of Merit for National Foundation Medal, and 218 will receive the Presidential Citation. As a result, a total of 18,569 people have been recognized as independence activists since the establishment of the Republic of Korea up to this Liberation Day.

Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kwon Oeul stated, "It is deeply meaningful to be able to honor those who sacrificed and dedicated themselves for the independence of our nation as independence activists on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day." He added, "The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs will continue to discover and honor even more independence activists in order to remember and uphold the noble spirit of independence of our forebears who devoted themselves to regaining our country, ensuring that their special sacrifices for all are remembered and respected."