Changwon Special City Holds Memorial for Bae Jungse and Visits Pastor Ju Ki-cheol Memorial Hall

Memorial Ceremony Held at Sangnam Danjeong Park
Honoring Noble Spirits at the Memorial Hall

Changwon Special City in South Gyeongsang Province solemnly held the 23rd Memorial Ceremony for Independence Activist Bae Jungse at Sangnam Danjeong Park to mark the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day, and subsequently visited the Memorial Hall of Pastor Ju Ki-cheol.

Changwon Special City Commemorates Independence Activist Bae Jungse on the 80th Anniversary of Liberation.

Bae Jungse (pen name Danjeong, 1893?1944), born in Towol-ri, Sangnam-myeon, Changwon-gun, was a member of the Uiyeoldan (Righteous Bravery Corps) and was imprisoned after being arrested for planning to bomb the Japanese Government-General of Korea. Even after his release, he actively participated in the independence movement, including raising funds for the cause. He died under Japanese torture at Daegu Prison on January 23, 1944. In 1990, the government posthumously awarded him the Order of Merit for National Foundation, Patriotic Medal.

The memorial ceremony, held on the 15th, was organized by the Changwon Cultural Center and attended by approximately 200 people, including Jang Geum-yong, Acting Mayor of Changwon Special City, National Assembly member Heo Seong-moo, provincial and city council members, bereaved families, and citizens. The event proceeded with the national ceremony, floral tribute and incense offering, reading of Bae Jungse's biography, awards for the essay contest, and recitations by the winners.

In his memorial address, Acting Mayor Jang Geum-yong stated, "We will reflect on the significance of the 80th anniversary of Liberation, uphold the noble patriotism of Bae Jungse, and never forget the sacrifices and dedication of our national heroes. We will also strive to instill a correct understanding of history in future generations."

After the ceremony, Acting Mayor Jang visited the Memorial Hall of Pastor Ju Ki-cheol, an anti-Japanese independence activist, to honor his noble spirit.

Pastor Ju Ki-cheol (1897?1944) resisted the Japanese colonial government's forced Shinto shrine worship, rallying religious communities and believers to lead the anti-shrine worship movement in defense of faith and national freedom. He endured repeated torture and imprisonment, and ultimately died for his convictions at Pyongyang Prison in April 1944. In 1963, the government posthumously awarded him the Presidential Citation of the Order of Merit for National Foundation.

Acting Mayor Jang stated, "The sacrifice and dedication of Pastor Ju Ki-cheol laid the foundation for today's Republic of Korea. We will strengthen our respect for those who devoted themselves to the nation and continue to promote projects honoring their service."

This memorial ceremony for Bae Jungse and the visit to the Memorial Hall of Pastor Ju Ki-cheol, held on the 80th anniversary of Liberation, served as an opportunity to renew social attention and respect for independence activists, and are expected to further spread a culture of honoring patriots throughout the local community.