Sancheong-gun, Gyeongnam Completes 'Sancheong Yurim Independence Movement 100th Anniversary Theme Park' Development

Restoration of Birthplace of Myeonwoo Gwak Jong-seok, Leader of Paris Jangseo Movement

Sancheong-gun Gains Momentum in Developing Tourism Resources Linked to Namsa Yedamchon

Gwak Jong-seok's Birthplace, Yurim Independence Movement 100th Anniversary Theme Park.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Choi Soon-kyung] The ‘Sancheong Independence Movement 100th Anniversary Commemorative Theme Park’ has been established, giving momentum to the tourism resource development project linked with Namsa Yedamchon.

On the 3rd, Sancheong-gun, Gyeongnam Province announced that the ‘Independence Movement 100th Anniversary Commemorative Theme Park Construction Project’ has been completed.

This project was prepared to honor Myeonwoo Gwak Jong-seok (1846?1919), a Confucian independence activist who advocated for the legitimacy of Korea’s independence to the international community.

The project aims to develop Namsa Yedamchon in Danseong-myeon, where the Confucian Independence Memorial Hall, Idong Seodang, and Paris Petition Memorial Tower are located, as the starting point of the Confucian independence movement, marking the 100th anniversaries of the March 1st Movement and the Paris Petition Movement.

Sancheong-gun plans to promote a tourism resource development project by linking the historical element of the independence movement with Namsa Yedamchon, designated as ‘Korea’s Most Beautiful Village No. 1.’

This park construction project was selected as a ‘March 1st Movement 100th Anniversary Commemorative Contest Project’ after Sancheong-gun applied for a special grant project to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Gyeongnam Province in 2019.

A total of 3.45 billion KRW was invested in the ‘Sancheong Independence Movement 100th Anniversary Commemorative Theme Park’ project (1.1 billion KRW from special grants, 200 million KRW from provincial funds, and 2.15 billion KRW from county funds).

The main focus is restoring the birthplace of Gwak Jong-seok near the Confucian Independence Memorial Hall and Idong Seodang. Additionally, an independence movement experience facility and theme park were created.

A lodging-style Hanok experience center was also built, allowing tourists to stay in Namsa Yedamchon, the sacred site of the Confucian independence movement, personally experience the old Confucians’ aspirations for independence, and enjoy the charm of the beautiful Hanok village.

Sancheong-gun plans to develop the Namsa Yedamchon area as a sacred site of the independence movement so that this project is not merely a commemoration of the March 1st Movement’s 100th anniversary.

Along with linking existing tourism resources in Namsa Yedamchon, a historical exploration route will be established, and the site will be developed as an experiential place where visitors can feel the ideology and pride of the Confucian independence movement.

Gwak Jong-seok, from Sawol-ri, Danseong-myeon, Sancheong-gun, was a leader of the Yeongnam Confucians who inherited the philosophy of Nammyung Jo Sik. He devoted himself to restoring national sovereignty and Korea’s independence through writing and scholarship and also led opposition against the signing of the Eulsa Treaty.

Representing him, 137 Korean Confucians wrote a lengthy Korean Independence Petition of 2,674 characters during the March 1st Movement and sent it to the Paris Peace Conference, striving to inform the international community of the legitimacy of independence.

Currently, in Namsa Yedamchon, the Confucian Independence Memorial Hall and a memorial tower engraved with the contents of the Paris Petition have been built to honor the Confucian independence movement. Right next to the Confucian Independence Memorial Hall stands Idong Seodang, built by Myeonwoo Gwak Jong-seok’s disciples after his death to commemorate him and pass on his teachings.

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