Gyeongbuk Province, First Metropolitan Local Government to Launch 'Finding Descendants of Independence Patriots' Initiative

On the 16th, Provincial Government and Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Sign Agreement on 'Finding Descendants of Independence Patriots'

Gyeongbuk Provincial Government Office.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Dongguk Lee] On the 16th, Gyeongbuk Province signed a business agreement with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs at the provincial government office to find descendants of local independence patriots whose medals have not yet been awarded.

About 30 people attended the signing ceremony, including Governor Lee Cheol-woo, Minister Park Min-sik of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, descendants of independence patriots, and heads of veterans organizations.

This agreement was initiated as the first among metropolitan local governments, recognizing the importance of local governments' roles in remembering independence patriots who devoted themselves to the country's independence and in finding their descendants who have not yet been identified to express gratitude.

Through this business agreement, they agreed to jointly promote ▲ regular council meetings to revitalize the search for descendants ▲ promotional activities such as exhibitions of unawarded medals ▲ campaigns to find graves and descendants of local independence activists ▲ development and operation of educational experience programs on independence activists' activities ▲ discovery of local independence movement materials and sharing of collected materials.

At the signing ceremony, the posthumous award of the Order of Merit for National Foundation was presented to the grandson of the late patriot Kim Gu-ha (Gumi), who was recognized as an independence patriot on March 1 last year for criticizing the forced requisition by the Governor-General and the conscription of Korean youth but whose medal had not been awarded due to the inability to find descendants until now.

Also, a presidential citation was presented to the daughter of the late patriot Lee Ju-seop (Andong), who was recognized as an independence patriot on August 15 last year for his contribution as a student of Yean Public Elementary School who led a fierce March 1st Movement in Andong.

In connection with this agreement, Gyeongbuk Province and the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs are holding the "Gyeongbuk Unawarded Independence Patriots Medal Exhibition" (from the 2nd to the 24th) in the first-floor lobby of Anmin-gwan at the provincial government office, under the theme "Standing in the Space of Memory and Gratitude," revealing some of the unawarded medals and the full list of unawarded recipients in the region.

The province, which has produced the most independence patriots nationwide, operates the only Gyeongsangbuk-do Independence Movement Memorial Hall among local governments across the country to inherit the spirit of independence.

Through this, they focus on discovering independence activists, conducting research related to the independence movement, and operating educational programs. They also develop and sell products such as mugs, tumblers, eco-bags, and notebooks related to the independence movement in cooperation with local social enterprise cooperatives, using part of the proceeds to support descendants of independence activists.

Additionally, they provide medical expenses of 4 million KRW annually to independence patriots and their families, promote housing environment improvement projects for descendants of independence patriots, remodeling 35 households so far, and strive to honor independence patriots and their families and ensure the stability of their descendants' lives.

Governor Lee Cheol-woo of Gyeongbuk Province said, "Gyeongbuk has been a central region protecting the country and nation in times of crisis, and we consider finding descendants of independence patriots very meaningful," adding, "We will continue to create a social atmosphere where those who sacrificed and devoted themselves to the country are respected, and honor independence patriots and their families, making Gyeongbuk the capital of national defense and veterans affairs."

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