Soongsil University Holds 'Rock of Independence' Unveiling Ceremony on National Patriots' Day

Independence Foundation Memorial Wall (Provided by Soongsil University)

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Soongsil University announced on the 17th that it will live stream the unveiling ceremony of the memorial monument "Rock of Independence" at 2 PM on the 20th via YouTube to commemorate 88 independence activists who graduated from Soongsil.

Since its founding in 1897, Soongsil University has taken the lead in the nation's autonomous modernization and independence. It actively opposed the Eulsa Treaty, engaged in activities with the New People's Association and the Korean National Association, and focused on building bases for the independence army to restore national sovereignty. It played a key role in the 105 Persons Incident, the Korean National Association, and the Liberation Association, and actively participated in the activities of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea after 1920, as well as the Gwangju Student Movement. To date, 114 people have been identified as actively participating in the March 1st Movement, and among the 173 students arrested during the January 1930 Pyongyang Student Manse Movement, 107 were Soongsil alumni.

Soongsil University, which voluntarily closed in 1938 in protest against the Japanese colonial government's oppressive shrine worship policy, conducted a focused investigation on alumni who dedicated themselves to independence and applied to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs for recognition of their merits. Currently, a total of 88 individuals have been recognized and posthumously honored as independence activists. To honor their spirit of sacrifice and patriotism, the "Rock of Independence," symbolizing the foundation of independence pursued by Soongsil independence activists, was established with the support of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, featuring a memorial wall engraved with the names of the 88 independence activists.

President Hwang Joon-sung said, "We are now living peacefully in the homeland that our patriotic ancestors reclaimed at the cost of their lives," adding, "We must never forget that the prosperous daily lives we enjoy every day are precious blessings exchanged for the lives of our ancestors."

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