16 Independence Activists from Gyeongbuk... Confirmed as Additional Independence Patriots

Independence activists who sacrificed for the country, Ihwa Seok (front row, far right)

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] Gyeongsangbuk-do announced that among the 219 independence activists awarded by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs on the occasion of the 103rd anniversary of the March 1st Movement, 16 independence activists from Gyeongbuk were included.

Gyeongbuk Province was the region where the independence movement was most active during the Japanese colonial period. With the 16 newly confirmed independence activists receiving awards this time, the total number of independence activists from Gyeongbuk reaches 2,394, accounting for 13.9% of the nationwide total of 17,285, the highest in the country.

The awards include 3 Order of Merit for National Foundation - Patriotic Medal recipients, 2 Order of Merit for National Foundation - National Medal recipients, 10 Presidential Commendations, and 1 National Foundation Medal.

Among the newly awarded independence activists, five who participated in the militia activities are Kim Sun-do (金舜道, unknown?1910, Order of Merit for National Foundation - Patriotic Medal) and Lee Hun-gu (李勳久, 1869?1947, Presidential Commendation) from Gyeongju; Nam Seok-gu (南錫球, 1875?1911, Order of Merit for National Foundation - Patriotic Medal) from Cheongsong; Jeong Nae-ui (鄭來儀, 1872?unknown, National Foundation Medal) from Yeongil; and Kwon Byeong-ho (權炳瑚, 1885?unknown, Presidential Commendation) from Gyeongsan. These individuals were active in the Sannam Uijin militia.

Sannam Uijin (山南義陣) was a militia unit active from March 1906 to around 1910, centered around Yeongcheon, Cheongsong, and Yeongil areas in Gyeongbuk.

Additionally, six participants in the March 1st Movement include Kim Myeong-jun (金命俊, 1896?unknown, Presidential Commendation) and Kim Sook-i (金淑伊, 1899?unknown, Presidential Commendation) from Seongju; Kim Pal-bong (金八奉, 1900?unknown, Presidential Commendation) from Chilgok; Lee Yuk-sang (李陸相, 1900?unknown, Presidential Commendation) from Cheongsong; Jang Gi-nam (張基南, 1905?1971, Presidential Commendation) and Jang Se-hwan (張世煥, 1901?1982, Presidential Commendation) from Yecheon.

Among them, Lee Yuk-sang was a contracted teacher at Naeseong Public Elementary School in Bonghwa, who made 66 Taegeukgi flags with students and was arrested while leading an independence demonstration on Naeseong market day.

Four domestic anti-Japanese activists include Nam Jun-seop (南俊燮, 1906?1933, Order of Merit for National Foundation - Patriotic Medal) from Andong; Park Jae-cheon (朴在千, 1920?1968, Order of Merit for National Foundation - National Medal) from Gyeongsan; Yoon Gi-seok (尹基錫, 1909?1991, Presidential Commendation) from Sangju; and Lee Sim-dong (李深洞, 1889?1964, Presidential Commendation) from Cheongdo.

Among them, Lee Sim-dong was a female independence activist who cooperated with Seo Dong-il (1893?1965, awarded Order of Merit for National Foundation - National Medal in 1990) of the Kuomintang (later Damuldan) in recruiting military funds and provided funds several times.

Also, Lee Hwa-seok (李華碩, 1900?unknown, Order of Merit for National Foundation - National Medal) from Gyeongju, who conducted independence activities in Manchuria, was active in the Han Clan Association in Fengtian Province, China in 1919, recruited military funds in 1920, and attempted to punish pro-Japanese Koreans, but was arrested and served one year in prison.

Park Se-eun, Director of Social Welfare Division of Gyeongbuk Province, stated, “We will promote various patriotic and commemorative projects to discover independence activists who sacrificed for the country and to create a social atmosphere that respects and honors them.”

Jung Jin-young, Director of the Gyeongsangbuk-do Independence Movement Memorial Hall, said, “We will continue to investigate and discover more independence activists buried in history and do our best to convey their patriotic spirit.”

Since 2020, Gyeongbuk Province and the Gyeongsangbuk-do Independence Movement Memorial Hall have been actively promoting a project to discover independence activists who have not yet received awards since liberation.

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