"We Will Fully Revive the Spirit of Independence" Gyeonggi Province Holds 80th Anniversary Celebration of Liberation
[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Kim Gap-dong] Gyeonggi Province held a 80th Anniversary Celebration of Liberation on the 15th at the Gyeonggi Art Center in Suwon. Around 1,000 people attended the celebration, including descendants of independence activists and officials from patriotic organizations.
The celebration began with a 60-member performance by the Gyeonggi Philharmonic Orchestra, followed by an entrance ceremony for descendants of national patriots, national ceremony, screening of a video themed "The Light We Recovered—Straight and True," and a commemorative ceremony.
Governor Kim Dong-yeon said in his congratulatory address, "Gyeonggi Province is on a journey to firmly establish the roots of our history and fully revive the spirit of independence. One of the milestones on this journey is the calligraphy left by Dr. An Jung-geun—'Independence' and 'Jangtan Ilseong Seonjowa Ilbon'—which will be returned, and in the future we will display them at the An Jung-geun Peace Center to be built at Imjinggak in Paju, where we will honor the fiery spirit of independence written in blood together with all citizens."
Through the celebration, Gyeonggi Province announced the final three of the "80 Independence Activists of This Year" who had not yet been revealed.
The three are Governor Jeong Hyeon-sook and her two daughters Governors Oh Hee-young and Hee-ok, and a specially commissioned musical performance depicting the life story of the three women was also performed on site.
Governor Jeong Hyeon-sook, born in Idong-myeon, Yongin in 1900, fled to Manchuria with her husband, independence activist Oh Gwang-seon, and dedicated herself to supporting the independence army, earning the title "Mother of Manchuria."
She subsequently engaged in activities as a member of the Korean Revolutionary Women's Alliance and the Korean Independence Party, participating in the establishment of the Provisional Government until liberation.
Eldest daughter Governor Oh Hee-young joined the Korean Liberation Youth Work Corps in 1939, participating in propaganda activities, and later enlisted in the Korean Liberation Army. After transferring to the Provisional Government, she worked as secretary to Chairman Kim Gu's office and propaganda officer in 1944.
The 80th hero, Governor Oh Hee-ok, followed her sister and joined the Korean Liberation Youth Work Corps at age 13, conducting intelligence gathering on the Japanese military and propaganda activities. She also served as a member of the Korean Liberation Army and a member of the Korean Independence Party, playing an important role in recruiting independence forces.
After liberation, she first took up teaching at Wonsam Elementary School in Yongin, imparting the spirit of independence to students, and after retiring, continued to promote the value of the independence movement. She passed away on November 17 last year, the Day of Patriotic Martyrs, at the age of 98.