'Dedicated to the Nation Even After Liberation' Teacher Kang Giduk Selected as 'Independence Activist of the Month'

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] The Gwangju Regional Veterans Affairs Office announced on the 30th that Mr. Kang Gideok was selected as the Independence Activist of the Month (February) by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.

Mr. Kang, jointly selected by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, the Liberation Association, and the Independence Hall, engaged in various independence movements domestically, starting from the March 1st Movement to the New Korea Society (Singanhoe).

Even after liberation, he devoted his life to the country, striving to prevent the division of the North and South.

He was born in 1886 in Wonsan, Hamgyeongnam-do, and during the March 1st Movement in 1919, he was one of the 48 national representatives (student representative, attending Boseong Law and Commerce School) who distributed the Declaration of Independence to students at various schools.

During the second protest (March 5), he waved a flag and led the crowd in shouting "Manse" (long live) but was arrested by the Japanese police and served one year and six months in prison.

After his release in November 1921, he worked in the printing business in his hometown Wonsan. Around March 1924, he produced printed materials commemorating the 5th anniversary of the March 1st Movement at Wonsan Bogwang School, aiming to carry on the spirit of the March 1st Movement.

He was also arrested and served six months in prison under the Public Security Preservation Act for giving speeches emphasizing the dire situation of Korean farmers, advocating for improvements in the tenancy system, and increasing farmers' income.

After his release, he participated in the founding meeting of the Wonsan branch of the New Korea Society (Singanhoe), serving as a preparatory committee member and executive committee member. On July 11, 1927, he was appointed secretary at the founding meeting of the Wonsan branch of Singanhoe.

Singanhoe was a left-right united anti-Japanese independence movement organization formed in 1927 by nationalist and socialist forces, and was the largest social movement organization during the Japanese colonial period.

While active in Singanhoe, he advocated for measures to guarantee freedom of the press and urged the suspension of the Newspaper Law. He was involved in the Hamnam Journalists' Federation incident, which demanded investigation into the crimes of bad landlords related to tenant disputes, and was sentenced to eight months in prison.

After his release in November 1929, shortly after being appointed head of the Wonsan branch, he was again arrested in February 1930 for involvement in anti-Japanese protests led by Wonsan students but was later released.

From 1931, he served as an executive of the Wonsan Labor Union and led efforts to rebuild the labor union. For this, he was imprisoned again for one year and two months in 1933 and released in 1935.

After liberation, he served as a central committee member of the National Mobilization Committee Against the Trusteeship and worked toward establishing a unified government. Unfortunately, he was unable to realize this dream and was abducted during the Korean War (6.25 War).

In recognition of his contributions, the government posthumously awarded Mr. Kang Gideok the Order of Independence Merit in 1990.

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