Hwasun County, South Jeolla Province, announced on March 3 that it held a memorial ceremony for Jigang Yang Hanmook at the Manyeon Hall of the Hanium Culture and Sports Center on March 1 to commemorate the 107th anniversary of the March 1st Movement.
The event was attended by Hwasun Deputy County Governor Lee Hobum, County Council Chairman Oh Hyungyeol, Vice Chairman Ryu Younggil, General Affairs Committee Chairperson Cho Myungsun, the head family of the Jeju Yang Clan Hakpogongpa, descendants of independence patriots, heads of organizations and social groups, members of veterans’ associations, and about 150 other participants.
The memorial ceremony included an introduction of Jigang Yang Hanmook’s biography, a reading of the Declaration of Independence, a memorial address, a communal singing of the March 1st Movement song, and three cheers for independence.
Notably, the Declaration of Independence was jointly read by Yang Hyunseung, Vice President of the Jeju Yang Clan Hakpogongpa Association, and Jang Hael, a student from Hwasun Middle School, making it a meaningful occasion that bridged generations.
Jigang Yang Hanmook was the only representative from the Honam region for the March 1st Movement. On March 1, 1919, he participated in the Declaration of Independence ceremony at Taehwagwan and shouted for Korea’s independence. He was subsequently arrested by the Japanese authorities, imprisoned at Seodaemun Prison, and died in prison on May 26 of the same year. In recognition of his contributions, the government posthumously awarded him the Order of Merit for National Foundation, Presidential Medal, in 1962.
In his memorial address, Deputy County Governor Lee Hobum stated, “We deeply engrave the sacrifices and devotion of our forebears in our hearts and will build a Hwasun where the residents are at the center.”
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