Jinju City Council Conducts On-Site Survey of Historic Sites to Study the Historical Value of the Equity Movement

The research group of Jinju City Council in Gyeongnam, ‘Research Group for Re-examining the Modern Significance of the 100th Anniversary of the Jinju Hyungpyeong Movement,’ announced on the 5th that they conducted an on-site survey of the Jinju Hyungpyeong Movement historic sites.

This field survey was conducted to collect materials for studying the historical value of the Hyungpyeong Movement, focusing on Jinju Church, which laid the foundation of the movement by successfully holding a joint worship service three months after the ‘Refusal Incident of Joint Worship with Baekjeong Shin Do’ occurred.

Group photo of Jinju City Council field survey at the Hyeongpyeon Movement Memorial Tower site

The survey began by examining traces of the Baekjeong people's lives at Jinju Hyanggyo, followed by visits to major historic sites including Jinju Church, the first church in Jinju, Uigoksa where the anti-Hyungpyeong incident took place, the old Jinju Theater where the Hyungpyeongsa founding celebration was held, and the Success Monument and tomb of Mr. Shin Hyun-su, who proposed the name ‘Hyungpyeong (衡平).’

Mr. Shin was a great figure who devoted himself to local education by establishing kindergartens, elementary schools, and night schools. In 1932, residents of the current Mangyeong-dong raised funds to erect a Success Monument near Mangyeong Elementary School in honor of his virtue. However, the monument’s original location has been lost, and it now sits tucked away on a slope of Mangjin Mountain, evoking regret among all.

In particular, visiting the Hyungpyeong Movement Memorial Tower and the gravesite of the Hyungpyeong Movement and Mr. Kang Sang-ho in sequence provided an opportunity to once again reflect on the historical value of the Hyungpyeong Movement.

Shin Hyun-guk, a council member and president of the research group, said, “Visiting the Hyungpyeong historic sites in person made me deeply realize the need to re-examine the region’s historical assets that have been forgotten due to neglect. Going forward, we will strive to discover these historical assets, enhance the city’s brand value, and continue active support to become a ‘studying council research group.’”

Shin Jin-gyun, an executive committee member of the Hyungpyeong Movement Memorial Project who guided the site visit, said, “In the past 20 years of conducting Hyungpyeong projects, this is the first time I have explored historical sites together with Jinju city council members. Seeing the members actively ask questions and make proposals with a learning attitude, I expect the future research activities to yield good results.”

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