'100th Anniversary of the Victory at the Battle of Bongodong' Special Photo Exhibition

April 4-16, Ibuk 5-Do Committee Hosts 'Korean Independence! The Battle of Bongodong for That Day'

Photo of the Taegeukgi flag in the Rajagu Cave displayed at the special exhibition "Korean Independence! The Battle of Bongodong for That Day." At the entrance of the cave, a refuge for independence fighters, there is a 40x30 cm Taegeukgi flag with the names of four unnamed Korean independence fighters written on it.

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] A photo exhibition vividly showcasing the flow of the anti-Japanese armed independence struggle in North Gando 100 years ago and the reality of the Gando Massacre is being held.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety's Committee for the Five Northern Provinces (Chairman Lee Myung-woo, Governor of South Pyongan Province) is holding a special photo exhibition titled "Korean Independence! The Battle of Bongodong for That Day" from the 4th to the 16th in the front yard and lobby of the Five Northern Provinces Office to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the victory in the Battle of Bongodong.

This exhibition was made possible by the provision of photos from Kim Jae-hong, Governor of North Hamgyong Province and great-grandson of Gyuam Kim Yak-yeon, who pioneered Myeongdong Village in North Gando, the birthplace of modern culture in North Gando and a base for the anti-Japanese independence movement.

The first part of the exhibition, "The Ideal Village Myeongdong and Yongjeong Established in North Gando," contrasts the old and current appearances of Myeongdong and Yongjeong villages, which were first pioneered in 1899 by 142 people from four families including Kim Yak-yeon, who had their registered domicile in Hamgyeong Province. The second part, "Fostering Anti-Japanese National Consciousness: North Gando National Schools," introduces schools that educated anti-Japanese national consciousness such as Seojeon Seosuk, Myeongdong School, and Jeongdong School, along with Gwangmyeong School established by the Japanese-led Gwangmyeonghoe.

The third part, "Cheolhyeol Gwangbokdan: North Gando Anti-Japanese Armed Organization," presents secret societies and similar organizations for Korean autonomy and armed independence struggle in North Gando. The fourth part, "Anti-Japanese Armed Independence Movement and the Battle of Bongodong," highlights the battle sites of the Battle of Bongodong and the exploits of General Hong Beom-do. The fifth part, "The Gando Massacre and Japanese Oppression of Koreans," sheds light on the Gando Massacre (1920), which was a direct consequence of the Battle of Bongodong.

A committee official stated, "We had planned to bring the remains of General Hong Beom-do and inter them at the National Cemetery to mark the 100th anniversary of the victory in the Battle of Bongodong this year, but it has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic," adding, "This exhibition will be a very useful and meaningful resource not only for Korean independence history but also for the history of North Gando migration."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.