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Busan Modern and Contemporary History Museum Publishes *Children of Great Figures*, Revealing Untold Stories of Renowned Masters Through the Voices of Their Second Generation

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□ The Busan Modern and Contemporary History Museum (hereinafter “the Museum”) announced that it will publish a book compiling the content of the humanities program Children of Great Figures, which was held seven times from 2024 through this year.

□ The humanities program Children of Great Figures provided a platform to hear firsthand accounts from the second generation about the lives of renowned figures from Busan who achieved distinction in their respective fields, including musician Geum Su-hyeon, National Intangible Cultural Heritage holder Kim Seok-chul, painter Kim Jong-sik, composer Lee Sang-geun, baseball player Choi Dong-won, photographer Choi Min-sik, and independence activist Han Hyeong-seok.

○ These great figures laid a solid cultural foundation for the Republic of Korea beyond Busan and built towering achievements upon it. Their reputations are widely recognized both at home and abroad, significantly elevating the stature of Busan as well.

○ However, as time passes, the lives and contributions of such figures tend to fade from the memory of subsequent generations. In response, the Museum planned this special program to revive and highlight their achievements and devoted lives.

○ Accordingly, over seven sessions held from 2024 through this year, the Museum invited the second-generation family members—Geum Nan-sae, Kim Dong-yeon, Kim Heon, Lee Eun-ae, Choi Gi-ho, Choi Yu-jin, and Han Jong-su—to share stories about these figures that were previously unknown, offering an opportunity to reexamine their lives in depth.

□ The newly published book, Children of Great Figures, was produced by compiling these valuable stories, including oral testimonies from the second generation, so that they may be preserved for a longer time and shared with a broader audience.

○ Each chapter of the book is structured with a reconstructed narrative based on the oral accounts shared during the dialogues in the first half, followed by analytical perspectives in the latter half from writers who have conducted research or in-depth reporting on the figure or their descendants.

○ Contributors to the book include a specialist researcher in the field of music (Nam Yeong-hui, Director of the Performing Arts Division at the Busan Cultural Center) and a writer who built close rapport with the second generation through event participation and follow-up reporting (Park Jong-ho, Senior Reporter at the Busan Ilbo).

○ A key distinguishing feature of the book is that it contains newly revealed achievements and everyday stories of these great figures uncovered through the dialogues. Above all, by presenting a balanced combination of perspectives from the second generation closest to the figures and from third-party observers, the book offers a multidimensional portrayal of their lives.

□ The book is not for sale and will be made available at the annex library of the Museum as well as at public libraries throughout Busan.

○ Through this publication, readers are expected to feel a closer connection to these now-deceased great figures and, through their lives, gain deeper insight into the trajectory of Korea’s modern and contemporary history.

□ Meanwhile, to commemorate the publication, a book launch event featuring a talk with the authors and a small concert will be held tomorrow (the 13th) at 2:00 p.m. at the Museum’s annex. The event will be held by invitation, with priority given to citizens who previously participated in the program.

□ Kim Gi-yong, Director of the Busan Modern and Contemporary History Museum, stated, “I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the second-generation family members who provided the greatest support for this event, as well as to the commemorative associations and all others who contributed in various ways,” adding, “I hope this book will serve as an opportunity to once again recognize the cultural strength and depth of the people of Busan.”