Special Traveling Exhibition Opens at Anti-Japanese Righteous Army Memorial Park for March 1st Movement Anniversary
Highlighting Convictions and Human Stories Through Prison Lives
To mark the 107th Anniversary of the March 1st Movement, a special traveling exhibition that re-examines the prison struggles and convictions of independence activists will be held in Cheongsong, North Gyeongsang Province.
The Gyeongsangbuk-do Patriots and Veterans Foundation announced that from February 24 to May 29, 2026, it will operate the touring exhibition "Life in the House of Death," part of the 2026 Memorial Facility Cooperation Network, at the Cheongsong Anti-Japanese Righteous Army Memorial Park’s Memorial Hall.
This exhibition is a traveling program jointly planned by the Independence Hall of Korea and the Seodaemun Prison History Hall, utilizing previous award-winning exhibits. It provides a multidimensional look at the prison lives endured by independence activists during the Japanese colonial period, focusing on aspects such as clothing, food, shelter, and psychology. Centered on the symbolic space of Seodaemun Prison, the exhibition vividly conveys the unbroken spirit and determination for independence that persisted despite the extreme hardships and adversity experienced by these activists.
In particular, this exhibition stands out as a case of sharing and utilizing outstanding exhibition content based on a network of cooperating institutions, which not only enhances operational efficiency but also adds meaning in terms of spreading collaborative veterans affairs content among public organizations. As a model for strengthening the content competitiveness of local memorial facilities and improving visitor accessibility, there are expectations for the potential expansion of such traveling exhibitions in the future.
During the exhibition period, the foundation has also prepared visitor participation programs in connection with the 107th Anniversary March 1st Movement commemorative event. An online learning worksheet, developed based on the exhibition content, will be offered, and an event will be held where participants are randomly selected to receive experiential educational kits. This approach aims to go beyond simple viewing, operating the exhibition as a participatory experience that combines education and hands-on learning.
Hee-won Han, CEO of the Gyeongsangbuk-do Patriots and Veterans Foundation, stated, "I hope this will serve as an opportunity to reflect once again on the meaning of freedom and independence through the prison lives of the independence activists," and added, "We will continue to expand cooperation-based exhibition operations so that residents of the province can naturally encounter the value of remembrance in their daily lives."
This exhibition holds significant educational and symbolic value as it highlights not only the historic moments of the independence movement but also the ongoing struggle within the extreme daily realities of prison life. In particular, the integration of experiential learning programs is seen as a meaningful attempt to expand historical awareness among future generations and to strengthen the cultural and educational functions of local memorial facilities.
The Cheongsong Anti-Japanese Righteous Army Memorial Park is expanding its role beyond a mere place of remembrance to become a key hub for experiential history education. This development is expected to have a positive ripple effect on the spread of local veterans affairs culture and the revitalization of historical tourism.
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