The Footsteps of Korean Cubans Supporting the Gwangju Student Independence Movement

Photo Exhibition Hosted by Professor Kim Jaegi of Chonnam National University

A meaningful event was held to look back on the historical footsteps of Korean Cubans who supported and sponsored the Gwangju Student Independence Movement.

Professor Kim Jaegi of Chonnam National University is explaining the photos to attendees at the "103rd Anniversary Photo Exhibition of the Cuban Korean Diaspora Supporting the Gwangju Student Independence Movement" held at Yunsangwon Hall, Chonnam National University.
[Photo by Jinhyung Park]

The Institute for Democracy and Community at Chonnam National University (Director Professor Kim Jae-gi) held a "103rd Anniversary Photo Exhibition of the Korean Cuban Diaspora Supporting the Gwangju Student Independence Movement" on the afternoon of the 25th at Yunsangwon Hall, Chonnam National University.

The event was attended by more than 50 people, including Kim Byung-in, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Chonnam National University, professors and students from the same university, and Ko Wook, head of the Gwangju branch of the Liberation Association.

Professor Kim Jae-gi added historical background and explanations to the 37 photos he exhibited, introducing the devoted spirit of the patriots who worked hard for the independence of their homeland.

The approximately 100 Korean Cubans highlighted in the photo exhibition left the Korean Empire in 1905 and supported and sponsored the Gwangju Student Independence Movement while carrying out independence activities in a foreign country on the opposite side of the globe.

The exhibition offers glimpses of articles about teenage students from Minseong Korean Language School in Cuba and Professor Bang Kyung-il donating funds to support the Gwangju Student Independence Movement, as well as scenes depicting the activities of the Korean National Association, who lost their homeland but ignited their will for independence.

The Gwangju Student Independence Movement began on November 3, 1929, in Gwangju Metropolitan City and continued until March of the following year, spreading nationwide as an anti-Japanese protest movement. Along with the March 1st Movement and the June 10th Movement, it is one of the three major independence movements.

Professor Kim said, "The Gwangju Student Independence Movement is the largest independence movement after the March 1st Movement, but many people misunderstand it as the Gwangju May 18 Democratic Movement," adding, "We plan to continuously hold related events to promote the spirit of the Gwangju Student Independence Movement, which we have researched for several years."

Meanwhile, on the 26th, Professor Kim will give a special lecture on the topic of diplomatic relations with Cuba and the tasks of veterans diplomacy at 1:30 p.m. in the seminar room on the 4th floor of the College of Social Sciences at Chonnam National University.

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