Independence Hall (Director Kim Hyung-seok) announced that it has selected the birthplace of Lee Dong-nyeong, the site of Kim Cheol's birthplace, and the site of Jo So-ang's home as the historic sites of the Korean independence movement for April 2025, in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day in 2025.
The Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, a democratic republic, was established in Shanghai, China on April 11, 1919. As the representative government of the Korean people at home and abroad, the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea fought against Japanese imperialism for national independence through various activities, including training military officers, organizing the Korean Patriotic Corps for acts of resistance, establishing the Korean Liberation Army, and promoting joint operations with the Allied forces to advance into Korea.
However, following the bombing at Hongkou Park by Yun Bong-gil in March 1932, the Provisional Government was forced to leave Shanghai due to Japanese oppression and moved to various locations in China, including Hangzhou, Zhenjiang, Changsha, Guangzhou, Liuzhou, and Qijiang, before finally settling in Chongqing in September 1940. Despite facing numerous hardships, the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea continued to lead the independence movement, and its leaders dedicated themselves to the liberation of their homeland.
The birthplace of Lee Dong-nyeong, located in Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do Province, is a historic site of the independence movement and the place where Lee Dong-nyeong, the first Speaker of the Provisional National Assembly, was born. Lee Dong-nyeong (1869-1940) went into exile in China in 1910 and devoted himself to training independence fighters as the first principal of Sinhung Military Academy. In April 1919, as the Speaker of the Provisional National Assembly, he played a leading role in the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. Subsequently, he served as the Prime Minister and President, becoming the supreme leader of the Provisional Government. Currently, the Lee Dong-nyeong Memorial Hall is located near his birthplace, where visitors can learn about his life and activities.
The site of Kim Cheol's birthplace, located in Hampyeong, Jeollanam-do Province, is where Kim Cheol, one of the leaders of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, was born. Kim Cheol (1886-1934) went into exile in Shanghai, China in 1917 and served as a representative of Jeolla Province in the Provisional National Assembly, a finance and justice committee member, and the Undersecretary of Transportation in the Provisional Government, playing a significant role in establishing the foundation of the Provisional Government in its early years. While Kim Cheol's actual birthplace no longer exists, the Ilgang Kim Cheol Memorial Hall, which recreates the Shanghai office of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, is located there and exhibits his life and activities.
The site of Jo So-ang's home is located in Yangju, Gyeonggi-do Province, and was the ancestral home of Jo So-ang, a theorist of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. Jo So-ang (1887-1958) drafted the "Declaration of Great Unity" in Shanghai, China in 1917, proposing the establishment of a provisional government. After the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea, he served as a member of the Provisional National Assembly, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and a State Council member. In November 1941, he formulated the Three Principles of Equality (Samgyunjuui), outlining the vision for a future independent nation. Although Jo So-ang's original home was destroyed and only the site remains, it has been restored nearby, and the Jo So-ang Memorial Hall is also located there, providing information about his life and work.
Detailed information about the historic sites of the Korean independence movement for April 2025 can be found on the website of the Historic Sites of the Domestic Independence Movement and National Defense (sajeok.i815.or.kr).
[Copyright (c) Global Economic Times. All Rights Reserved.]
