[Photo] Seongjanghyeon, Yongsan District Mayor, Attends Memorial Ceremony for '8 Patriotic Martyrs' at Hyochangwon Uiyeolsa

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Yongsan-gu (Mayor Seong Jang-hyun) held the ‘Memorial Ceremony for the 8 Patriots’ on the 23rd at Uiyeolsa Shrine in Hyochang Park (177-18 Hyochangwon-ro, Historic Site No. 330) to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the return of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea.

The Memorial Ceremony for the 8 Patriots is a joint ritual honoring the spirits of the 7 patriotic martyrs buried in Hyochang Park (Kim Gu, Lee Bong-chang, Yun Bong-gil, Baek Jeong-gi, Lee Dong-nyeong, Jo Seong-hwan, Cha Ri-seok) and An Jung-geun, reflecting on the spirit of patriotism.

The Hyochangwon 7 Patriots Memorial Association (President Lee Jong-rae) has been organizing the event for 10 years. This year, the name was changed for the first time to the ‘Memorial Ceremony for the 8 Patriots.’

A district official said, “At the end of last year, the portrait and memorial tablet of An Jung-geun were enshrined together at Uiyeolsa Shrine,” adding, “From now on, the ceremony will be elevated to the Memorial Ceremony for the 8 Patriots to honor An’s spirit as well.”

The ceremony proceeded for one hour in the following order: Jeonpye-rye (a ritual offering of a formal bow), Chohun-rye (the first cup of wine offered by the officiant with a bow), Ahun-rye (the second cup offering), Jonghun-rye (the final cup offering), Eumbok-rye (the officiants partake in the wine and food), and Mangyo-rye (burning of the memorial tablet and ritual paper). About 40 people attended, including Yongsan-gu Mayor Seong Jang-hyun and Lee Jong-rae, President of the Hyochangwon 7 Patriots Memorial Association.

Mayor Seong Jang-hyun said, “We held a meaningful event at Hyochangwon to mark the 75th anniversary of the Provisional Government’s return,” adding, “Our nation shows its true value in times of hardship. We will surely overcome today’s crisis as well.”

Hyochang Park was originally Hyochangwon, the burial site of the Joseon royal family, including Crown Prince Munhyo (the eldest son of King Jeongjo, the 22nd king of Joseon). During the Japanese colonial period, it was downgraded to a park facility. After liberation, Baekbeom (Kim Gu) enshrined the remains of the three righteous martyrs Lee Bong-chang, Yun Bong-gil, and Baek Jeong-gi, as well as the remains of Provisional Government officials Lee Dong-nyeong, Jo Seong-hwan, and Cha Ri-seok here. A memorial tomb for An Jung-geun was also established. Kim Gu was also buried in Hyochang Park after being assassinated by right-wing terrorists in 1949.

The government designated Hyochang Park as a national cultural heritage site in 1989. Uiyeolsa Shrine, completed the following year, is a shrine housing the memorial tablets of the 8 patriots. Since 2016, the district has kept Uiyeolsa Shrine open to the public year-round.

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