"We Must Remember the Buried Patriotic Martyrs"... Memorial Ceremony for Independence Activists Who Perished at Daegu Prison

Jointly Hosted by the Independence Movement Spirit Succession Association and Daegu Branch of the Liberation Association
First Collaborative Participation by Eight Regional Liberation Association Branches from Yeongho and Honam

The Independence Movement Spirit Succession Association (Executive Representative Jang Ikhyun) and the Daegu Branch of the Liberation Association (Branch Chief Woo Daehyun) held the "5th Buried Patriotic Martyrs Site, Daegu Prison Patriotic Independence Activists Memorial Ceremony" at Biseul Hall, Daegu Culture and Arts Center, on the afternoon of November 2, honoring the sacrifice of the patriots who gave their lives for the country.

This memorial ceremony, which has been held annually since 2021, saw, for the first time, the joint participation of eight regional branches of the Liberation Association from Yeongho and Honam, in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Liberation.

The Independence Movement Spirit Succession Association and the Daegu Branch of the Liberation Association are holding the "5th Buried Patriotic Martyrs Memorial Ceremony at Daegu Prison."

The event was attended by key figures, including Kang Yunjin, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs; Hong Seongju, Deputy Mayor for Economic Affairs of Daegu; Heo So, Daegu City Party Chairperson of the Democratic Party of Korea; Lee Inseon, Daegu City Party Chairperson of the People Power Party and National Assembly member; as well as the branch chiefs of the Liberation Association from Busan, Ulsan, Gyeongnam, and Jeonnam.

Descendants of independence activists who died or were imprisoned at Daegu Prison were also present at the memorial ceremony.

Among the participants were Kim Kyungshik, grandson of Kim Hanjong, Chief of the Chungcheong Branch of the Korean Liberation Association; Park Pilhun, great-grandson of Commander-in-Chief Park Sangjin; Yoon Youngjae, son of Dr. Yoon Jongsoo, who died in the Uljin Changyugye Incident; and Lee Jeonggeun, grandson of Lee Jongam, Deputy Chief of the Uiyeoldan. These descendants paid tribute to the spirits of their ancestors.

The memorial ceremony began with the reading of the "February 8th Independence Declaration" by descendant Bae Seongje, followed by a video about the independence activists who perished at Daegu Prison, memorial performances, choir singing, sand art, and other diverse programs that moved the participants deeply.

Jang Ikhyun, Executive Representative, stated, "This memorial ceremony is especially meaningful as it marks the 80th anniversary of Liberation and brings together the eight regional branches of the Liberation Association from Yeongho and Honam." He added, "I hope that we can properly carry on the spirit of the independence movement patriots and use it as a foundation for unification."

He is the great-grandson of Jang Yundeok, the militia leader from Yecheon, North Gyeongsang Province, and assumed the role of Executive Representative of the Independence Movement Spirit Succession Association in March this year.

Woo Daehyun, Daegu Branch Chief (son of Woo Jaeryong, Commander of the Korean Liberation Association), also emphasized, "I hope this serves as an opportunity to remember the forgotten patriotic martyrs and inherit the spirit of independence," and added, "I wish for the construction of the Daegu Independence Movement Memorial Hall to proceed smoothly without any setbacks."

Since its establishment in 2018, the Independence Movement Spirit Succession Association has investigated and identified 216 independence activists who died by execution, suicide, or torture at Daegu Prison, and has continued to hold annual memorial ceremonies in their honor.

The Daegu Prison History Museum, which opened in February this year within Samdeok Church in Jung-gu, is the result of these efforts. It has become a new historical asset for Daegu, with an average of 20 to 50 citizens, students, and groups visiting daily.