[Interview] Park Gyeom-su, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, "Installation of Kim Min-ki's 'Morning Dew' Song Monument at the Entrance of the 4.9 Democracy Cemetery, a Sacred Site of Democratization"

A region where the turbulent modern history from the independence movement to the democratization movement around 4·19 Intersection vividly lives. Developing the 4·19 Intersection area into a specialized street combining cultural and artistic resources with the symbolism of 'Independence and Democracy'

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] “A new historical and cultural monument has been added to the footsteps of independence and democracy activists gathered at the foot of Bukhansan Mountain.”

Park Gyeom-su, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, said in an interview with this publication, “We have erected a monument for the song ‘Achim Isul’ (Morning Dew) on the way to the National April 19th Democracy Cemetery, a sacred site of Korean democratization.”

He added, “We plan to install nighttime landscape lighting to illuminate the monument,” and “We will rename the location where the monument stands as ‘Achim Isul Park.’” He also shared plans, saying, “Next year, we intend to hold the Achim Isul Song Festival,” and “The soon-to-open multipurpose small theater will be named the Achim Isul Hall.”

‘Achim Isul,’ which celebrated its 50th anniversary this year, is a folk song symbolizing the democratization movement. It was one of the most popular songs sung by crowds at sites yearning for democratization. It was also sung at the funeral of martyr Lee Han-yeol, who collapsed after being hit by a tear gas canister fired by the police in 1987. The song was banned under the Emergency Measures imposed by the Yushin government in 1975 but restrictions were lifted only after the June Democratic Uprising in 1987.

Mayor Park explained, “From the Yushin era, wherever calls for democratization were made, Achim Isul was always there,” and “It was the most sung song until the ‘March for the Beloved’ emerged after the May 18 Democratic Movement.”

‘Achim Isul’ has a deep connection with Gangbuk-gu. The lyric “The sun rises red over the cemetery” was inspired by the old scenery of Suyu-dong.

Mayor Park revealed the creative background, saying, “After entering university, Kim Min-ki settled in Suyu-dong and composed ‘Achim Isul’ in an underground art studio in 1970. One day, when he looked out the window, he saw the sun shining over the cemetery on the hill.” This detail is also confirmed on the monument. The monument includes the creator’s handwritten musical score and an explanation of the song’s origin. The creator left the inscription under the score: ‘Composed in 1970 in Suyu-dong. Written by Kim Min-ki in 2021.’

The location of the monument holds significance beyond just the place. The surrounding April 19th area is a district for urban regeneration projects centered on history, culture, and the arts. This area, surrounded by Bukhansan Mountain, fully reveals the identity of the region. Near the monument is a modern history memorial hall where visitors can encounter the history from the Donghak Peasant Revolution to the April 19th Revolution in one place.

In the front yard stand the Independence and Democracy Monument and a statue of Baekbeom Kim Gu, funded by citizens’ donations.

Mayor Park introduced, “Since 2018, we have placed busts of patriotic ancestors who dedicated their lives to national independence and democratization here,” and “Recently, we installed constellation lighting symbolizing these ancestors along the pathway leading to the memorial hall.”

Behind the modern history memorial hall lies the burial ground for patriotic martyrs. Figures such as Lee Si-young, martyr Lee Jun, Shin Ik-hee, and other provisional government leaders and liberation army members rest at the foot of Bukhansan Mountain. The ‘Chodae-gil’ (Invitation Road), a path connecting symbolic figures known as the ‘firsts’ in the Republic of Korea among the patriotic martyrs’ graves, attracts visitors. Near the April 19th Democracy Cemetery intersection is the house where Yoon Geuk-young, who composed the children’s song ‘Bandal’ (Half Moon) in 1924, lived. Nearby, at Solbat Park, there is a granite monument for the song ‘Bandal.’

Gangbuk-gu Mayor Park Gyeom-su said, “The April 19th intersection area is a region where the turbulent modern history from the independence struggle to the democratization movement is vividly alive,” and “We will develop the April 19th intersection area into a specialized street that combines cultural and artistic resources with the symbolism of ‘independence and democracy.’”

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