Jungnang-gu Holds 100th Anniversary Memorial Ceremony for Yu Gwansun Martyrdom

October 14, 1920, Interred at Itaewon Cemetery... Relocated to Manguri Park in 1936 due to Itaewon Cemetery Urban Redevelopment... April 26, 2 PM, 100th Anniversary Memorial Ceremony for Yu Gwansun Martyrdom at Manguri Park

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Mangwoo-ri Park, 570 Mangwoo-ro, Jungnang-gu

Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi), in co-hosting with the Yu Gwan-sun Martyrs Memorial Association (Ryu Jung-woo), will hold a memorial ceremony on the 26th at 2 p.m. at the joint burial site of Yu Gwan-sun in Mangwoo-ri Park to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the martyrdom of Yu Gwan-sun, reflecting on the noble spirit of the independence movement and continuing her legacy.

The memorial ceremony will proceed in the order of a commemorative address, memorial speeches, flower offering and incense burning, reading of memorial letters, leaving memorial messages, singing the Yu Gwan-sun song, and three cheers for independence.

The district, in consultation with the Yu Gwan-sun Martyrs Memorial Association, will hold the memorial ceremony on the 26th at 2 p.m. at the joint burial site of Yu Gwan-sun in Mangwoo-ri Park, close to her martyrdom date of September 28.

This memorial ceremony will be held with a small number of attendees, including the head of the Seoul Regional Veterans Office, the president of the Yu Gwan-sun Martyrs Memorial Association, and representatives of the bereaved families, to prevent the local spread of COVID-19.

Mangwoo-ri Park, where many figures who lived through the turbulent modern history rest, along with its beautiful natural scenery, is a pride of Jungnang-gu. It is the resting place of over 60 pioneers from various fields, including patriots Han Yong-un, Oh Se-chang, Moon Il-pyeong, Bang Jeong-hwan, as well as Ji Seok-young, Jo Bong-am, Lee Jung-seop, Park In-hwan, and about 7,000 common people.

Among them is Yu Gwan-sun.

The connection between Yu Gwan-sun and Mangwoo-ri Park dates back to 1936. Yu Gwan-sun, who led the March 1st Movement at Aunae Market and was imprisoned in Seodaemun Prison, continued to lead the prison cell independence cheers on March 1, 1920, and resisted until she died on September 28 of the same year. She was buried without a tombstone in Itaewon Public Cemetery under Japanese surveillance on October 14.

However, as Itaewon Public Cemetery was developed into military facilities and residential areas, in 1936, about 28,000 unclaimed graves, including Yu Gwan-sun’s, were cremated and jointly buried in Mangwoo-ri Park, where a memorial monument was erected. This is the “Itaewon Cemetery Unclaimed Graves Joint Burial Monument.”

Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi) is carefully maintaining Mangwoo-ri Park, where the soul of Yu Gwan-sun rests, together with its residents.

The maintenance project for the Itaewon Cemetery Unclaimed Graves Joint Burial Site has also been completed. Since March, the joint burial site maintenance project has installed barrier-free deck roads and improved access routes for the elderly, disabled, and other mobility-impaired individuals.

Additionally, dangerous trees around the cemetery, such as leaning trees, have been pruned to prevent safety accidents, making it accessible to many residents.

Furthermore, the Eternal Memory Volunteer Group, which directly cares for the Mangwoo-ri Park burial site on a one-to-one basis, currently has about 1,000 members from 87 organizations active in Jungnang-gu.

Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, said, “It is very meaningful to hold a memorial ceremony at Mangwoo-ri Park on the 100th anniversary of Yu Gwan-sun’s martyrdom. We will not spare any effort to remember Yu Gwan-sun and others who left their footprints in the independence movement of the same era and to honor the spirit of sacrifice for independence.”

Jungnang-gu received the management rights of Mangwoo-ri Park from Seoul City last July and is carrying out various projects to develop it into a world-class historical and cultural park that harmonizes walking trails, resting spaces, and memorial education areas.

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