Memorial Ceremony Held for the 103rd Anniversary of Martyr Yu Gwan-sun's Death

Yongsan-gu to Hold Memorial Ceremony for Yu Gwan-sun at Itaewon Bugundang History Park on 26th... National Salute, Reading of Memorial Speech, Flower Offering and Incense Burning to Follow

Park Hee-young, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, Offering Flowers

“Even if my nails are torn off, my ears and nose are cut, and my hands and legs are broken, I can endure that pain, but I cannot bear the pain of losing my country. The only sorrow of this girl is that she has only one life to give for her country.”

These were the last words left by Yu Gwan-sun in prison.

Yu Gwan-sun died in prison at Seodaemun Prison on September 28, 1920, at the age of 17. Afterward, her body was returned for a funeral and interred at the Itaewon Cemetery, but during the process of relocation, her remains were lost, and their whereabouts are unknown.

Yongsan-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Park Hee-young) has held a memorial ceremony every year on September 28, the anniversary of her death, since 2015 to honor the noble spirit of Yu Gwan-sun, who was buried in Yongsan after her martyrdom, and to carry on the spirit of the independence movement.

This year, the event was held earlier on the 26th at the Itaewon Bugundang Historical Park due to the Chuseok holiday, marking the 103rd anniversary memorial ceremony for Yu Gwan-sun’s martyrdom.

Itaewon Bugundang Historical Park overlooks the site of the Itaewon Cemetery where Yu Gwan-sun was buried, and a memorial monument for her was erected there in 2015.

The invited guests included Park Hee-young, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, Yu Gwan-sun’s family members, and about 50 members of the commemorative association. However, more than 100 people, including local residents, attended the memorial ceremony on site. The ceremony lasted 40 minutes, beginning with the national anthem.

This year’s memorial featured violin performances and choir singing by students from the Graduate School of Music Therapy at Sookmyung Women’s University. Along with the memorial concert, it was a special time to comfort the spirit of Yu Gwan-sun, who passed away at a young age, and to honor her spirit.

In addition, the program included ▲memorial speeches ▲reading of commemorative messages ▲incense offering and flower tribute ▲and memorial performances.

Park Hee-young, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, said, “This year’s memorial was even more meaningful with the participation of Sookmyung Women’s University students. We were able to honor Yu Gwan-sun’s will and feel grateful once again to the ancestors who fought for independence.”

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