Moon Seok-jin, Mayor of Seodaemun-gu - Sim Yong-hwan, Director of HistoryN Education Research Institute Commemorative Talk for Seodaemun Independence Democracy Festival

Plan to Create 'Independence and Democracy Activists Memory Space' at Seodaemun Prison History Hall... Connecting 'Independence Gate - Seodaemun Prison History Hall - Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea Memorial Hall' as a Historical and Cultural Belt

Moon Seok-jin, Mayor of Seodaemun District (right), and Shim Yong-hwan, Director of the History N Education Research Institute, are having a discussion on the 5th in the National Resistance Room at Seodaemun Prison History Hall under the theme "Seodaemun Independence and Democracy Festival and Seodaemun as a Historical and Cultural City."

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] On the 5th, Moon Seok-jin, Mayor of Seodaemun District, and Shim Yong-hwan, Director of the History N Education Research Institute, held a dialogue at the Seodaemun Prison History Hall under the theme of ‘Seodaemun Independence and Democracy Festival and the Historical and Cultural City of Seodaemun.’

The dialogue was arranged ahead of the ‘2021 Seodaemun Independence and Democracy Festival,’ scheduled to be held on August 15th to mark the 76th anniversary of Liberation Day.

In the dialogue, Mayor Moon said, “This year marks the 12th Independence and Democracy Festival, a place to share the joy of achieving national independence and democratization by overcoming a history of hardship,” adding, “A major achievement has been the ability to inform many domestic and international visitors about the lives and spirits of independence activists and democratic figures.”

He also stated, “Next month, we plan to create a ‘Memory Space for Independence and Democracy Activists’ at the Seodaemun Prison History Hall and produce videos about the ‘Person of the Year’ selected annually, which will be exhibited permanently for one year.”

Shim, who has participated in the Seodaemun Independence and Democracy Festival since 2018 through history concerts, said, “I was deeply moved watching the footprinting scene where independence and democracy activists left their marks,” and added, “I hope many citizens will walk along the ‘Memorial Road ? Path of Independence and Democracy’ established in Independence Park.”

In 2019, to mark the 10th anniversary of the Seodaemun Independence and Democracy Festival, the district installed footprint sculptures of 30 independence activists who had participated in the festival and 100 bronze plates depicting major modern history of Korea, creating this path.

Mayor Moon said, “One independence activist told me, ‘I have never been honored as much as today in my life,’ which was heartbreaking,” and added, “I hope the Path of Independence and Democracy, which holds the traces of these figures, becomes a place where history is deeply engraved in the heart.”

Regarding the ‘Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea Memorial Hall,’ scheduled for completion in November, Mayor Moon said, “The historical and cultural belt connecting Independence Gate, Seodaemun Prison History Hall, and the Provisional Government Memorial Hall will become a living educational site where people can learn about national independence, the establishment of a modern democratic republic, and the achievement of democracy.”

Shim said, “I hope the painful history within the historical and cultural belt is shown as it is, and various educational and experiential programs are held so that it can be established as a place of history and memory for our citizens, including youth, and foreigners.”

During the dialogue, Mayor Moon expressed his thoughts, saying, “It is rewarding to carry out meaningful tasks in a place that holds historical value.”

The district has been dedicated to various projects such as the 100th anniversary of the March 1st Movement commemorative project, the Seodaemun Independence and Democracy Festival, construction of the public rental housing ‘Nara Sarangchae,’ expansion and restoration of the Seodaemun Prison History Hall historic site, and support for research on the history of the independence movement.

Mayor Moon said, “We will continue to promote efforts to remember and commemorate the history of independence and democracy activists so that the meaning of independence and democracy can be passed on to the next generation.”

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