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Historical Documents Related to Independence Activist Seo Young-hae from Busan to Be Designated as National Registered Cultural Heritage

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The Busan Museum announced that 343 items (686 pieces) related to Korean independence activist Seo Young-hae, held in its collection, have been preliminarily listed as National Registered Cultural Heritage by the National Heritage Administration of Korea as of April 17.

Seo Young-hae (born Seo Hee-soo, 1902–?) was a prominent figure in the Korean independence movement during the Japanese colonial period. A diplomat, writer, journalist, and educator, he played a leading role in promoting Korea’s independence across Europe. The materials, many of which were donated by his wife, had been carefully preserved and only recently received public attention.

These artifacts were first submitted for heritage designation in March 2023. After two years of revision, renaming, and resubmission, the collection has now been officially nominated for national listing. Following a 30-day public review period, the final designation will be confirmed through a heritage committee review.

The Seo Young-hae Collection includes extensive documents and personal items such as:

• ●Correspondence with key members of the Korean Provisional Government

• ●Manuscripts, typewriters, and personal belongings

• ●Records from his diplomatic work in France and the Korean press agency he founded, Koryo News Agency (1929)

• ●Rare publications, including the Declaration of Korean Independence printed in Paris

• ●Letters to and from Seo Young-hae, including communications with Baekbeom Kim Gu

• ●Newspaper articles, editorials, and literary works authored by Seo

These artifacts are highly valuable not only for studying the independence movement and Korea’s modern diplomacy, but also for understanding the life and legacy of Seo Young-hae as a multifaceted intellectual.

Seo was born in Choryang, Busan, in 1902. He joined the March 1st Movement and later studied in Shanghai, participating in the Korean Provisional Government. In 1920, he moved to France and later established the Koryo News Agency to raise global awareness of Japanese colonial oppression. He studied at the Sorbonne and served as the Provisional Government’s Foreign Affairs Commissioner to France, attending international peace conferences in Brussels and Geneva.

Seo was also an accomplished writer. His works—including the novel A Korean’s Life, the folktale collection The Mirror, and the short story The Shoemaker’s Daughter—introduced Korean culture and independence issues to European audiences, earning recognition in French literary circles.

After Korea’s liberation, Seo returned to Busan and worked as a French language educator. However, due to post-liberation political unrest, he decided to return to France. He and his wife, Hwang Soon-jo (former principal of Gyeongnam Girls’ High School), were separated in Shanghai during the journey, and Seo disappeared from public record after 1956.

Hwang, who had preserved his belongings for decades, entrusted the materials to teacher Ryu Young-nam (former president of the Busan Hangeul Society), who later donated them to the school’s historical archive in 2018. In January 2019, the items were formally transferred to the Busan Museum.

The Museum has actively researched and utilized the collection, including organizing the 2019 special exhibition “Seo Young-hae: A Korean in Paris, Awakening Europe”, and publishing academic papers on his life. These efforts have now led to this significant designation.

Jeong Eun-woo, Director of the Busan Museum, stated,

“It is highly symbolic that the materials of Seo Young-hae, who dedicated his life to Korea’s independence, are being designated as National Registered Cultural Heritage in the 80th year of liberation. This is also the first time an item from the Busan Museum’s collection has received such a designation.”

He added,

“Seo’s artifacts will be featured in our upcoming special exhibition ‘Time of Liberation: Walking Through That Day’ in June and in the National Heritage Administration’s special exhibition in August. We hope many people will take interest.”