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Following the Footsteps of the Independence Movement to Mark the 80th Anniversary of Liberation… 2025 “Busan Liberation Expedition” Set to Begin!

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that, in celebration of the 80th anniversary of liberation, it will organize the “Busan Liberation Expedition,” a program in which descendants of local independence patriots will visit key historic sites of the anti-Japanese independence movement in northeastern China.

○ The “Busan Liberation Expedition” was launched last year (2024) to mark the first journey of its kind and is now entering its second year. The program aims to carry on the spirit of sacrifice of the independence movement by visiting historic sites firsthand and to raise awareness among young people about patriotism while instilling civic pride.

This year’s expedition, in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of liberation and in support of the successful establishment of the Busan Independence Movement Memorial Hall, will expand participation beyond descendants of independence patriots to include Korean history teachers and university students in related fields. With 80 members, the program will enhance both its educational significance and social outreach impact.

○ With recommendations from the Busan Chapter of the Liberation Association, 52 descendants of independence patriots aged 18–49 were selected. Additionally, two Korean history teachers were recommended by the Busan Metropolitan Office of Education, and 25 university students from five universities in Busan with history or social sciences departments—Pusan National University, Dong-A University, Korea Maritime & Ocean University, Kyungsung University, and Silla University—were selected to join the expedition.

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The “Busan Liberation Expedition” will run from July 16 to 19, covering four days. Participants will follow the traces of the armed independence movement by visiting anti-Japanese historic sites in Yanji and the Baekdu Mountain area in China, experiencing history firsthand.

○ The itinerary includes key sites such as:

• ●The former site of Myeongdong School and the birthplace of poet Yun Dong-ju, representing spaces of ethnic education and literature;

• ●Heaven Lake and Biryong Falls at Baekdu Mountain, symbolizing national spirit;

• ●Yanji Prison, sites related to the Ganminhoe (Association of Korean Residents in Manchuria), and Obongchon, the strategic outpost of the Battle of Bongo-dong—allowing participants to deeply sense the pulse of the independence struggle.

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Overview of the “Busan Liberation Expedition”

• ●Period: July 16 (Wed) – July 19 (Sat), 2025 (4 days, 3 nights)

• ●Locations: Independence movement historic sites in Yanji and the Baekdu Mountain area, China

• ●Participants: 80 (52 descendants of independence patriots, 2 Korean history teachers, 25 university students)

• ●Organizer: Busan Metropolitan City

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One of the participants, Baek Ji-yeon, is the great-granddaughter of Baek Nak-ju, an independence activist active in Manchuria. She expressed her anticipation:
“It is deeply moving to stand on the very ground where my great-grandfather fought for our country, a story I heard about since childhood. I want to truly feel the fervent patriotism of our ancestors.”

○ Baek Nak-ju (1888.12–1965.12)

• ●Award: Order of Merit for National Foundation, 1963

• ●Field: Manchurian region

• ●Key Contributions:

• ○Participated in the March 1st Independence Movement in Jeongju (1919)

• ○Joined the Korean Independence Corps in Manchuria and carried out anti-Japanese activities

• ○As an independence platoon leader in 1920, killed a Japanese consul in Heunggyong and obtained a large sum of funds

• ○Joined the Korean Unification Government in 1923 and served as Legal Minister

• ○Arrested in 1928 under the direction of the Japanese Consulate in Fengcheng, sentenced to life imprisonment in 1932, and later released upon liberation

(Source: Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs – Patriotic Information Archive)

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The departure ceremony for the “Busan Liberation Expedition” will be held on the morning of July 14 (Monday) at 10:00 a.m. in the main conference room of the Busan Metropolitan Council. The ceremony will include welcoming remarks from Mayor Park Heong-joon, an oath by the expedition members, a symbolic departure performance, and commemorative photos.

○ Approximately 100 participants—including expedition members, the head of the Busan Chapter of the Liberation Association, and descendants of independence patriots—will attend. The event aims to reaffirm the spirit of the independence movement across generations.

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Overview of the “Busan Liberation Expedition” Departure Ceremony

• ●Date & Time: July 14, 2025 (Mon) at 10:00 a.m.

• ●Venue: Main conference room, Busan Metropolitan Council

• ●Attendees: Mayor, head of the Busan Chapter of the Liberation Association, expedition members, descendants of independence patriots (approx. 100 participants)

• ●Program: Welcoming remarks, oath by expedition members, uniform presentation and departure performance, commemorative photo session

• ●Organizer: Busan Metropolitan City

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Mayor Park Heong-joon stated,
“Busan Liberation Expedition is a meaningful project to remember and carry on Busan’s proud historical legacy, and to transform that spirit into energy for Busan’s continued development. By including not only descendants of independence activists but also history teachers and university students this year, we aim to share and preserve the spirit of the independence movement more widely.”

He added,
“Busan plans to begin construction of the Busan Independence Movement Memorial Hall inside Busan Citizens Park by the end of this year. We will continue to work toward passing down Busan’s proud legacy of the independence movement to future generations.”