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A Memorial Built by Busan Citizens: Construction Begins Today (Dec. 18) on the Busan Independence Movement Memorial Hall

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it will hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the Busan Independence Movement Memorial Hall (hereinafter referred to as “the Memorial Hall”) at 10:00 a.m. today (Dec. 18) at Baeksan Hall, Citizens’ Love Pavilion, Busan Citizens Park.

The ceremony has been arranged to mark the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation, share with citizens the historical significance of Busan’s independence movement, and officially signal the start of the Memorial Hall’s construction.

Approximately 300 people are expected to attend the event, including Mayor Park Heong-joon, the Chair of the Busan Metropolitan Council, the Superintendent of Education, heads of veterans’ organizations, members of the Liberation Association, civic groups, and students.

The ceremony will proceed in the following order: progress report, commemorative address by the Mayor, congratulatory remarks, a congratulatory choral performance, and a ceremonial groundbreaking. A video presenting the background and purpose of the Memorial Hall project will also be screened.

The Busan Independence Movement Memorial Hall will be created through the remodeling of the existing Citizens’ Love Pavilion at Busan Citizens Park. Busan Metropolitan City plans to reinforce its symbolic significance as Busan’s first memorial hall specializing in the independence movement and develop it into one of the city’s representative historical and cultural landmarks.

With a total project budget of KRW 18 billion, the Memorial Hall will be constructed as a two-story building above ground with a total floor area of 2,378 square meters. Its interior will comprise a memorial space, permanent and special exhibition galleries, experiential and educational spaces, and a multipurpose cultural area. Beyond serving as a simple exhibition venue, it will be operated as a participatory historical and cultural platform for citizens.

Construction will begin this year, with exhibition design and content development proceeding concurrently, as the city accelerates efforts toward the target opening in the first half of 2027.

Busan Metropolitan City has already secured 602 artifacts related to the independence movement, including the March 1 Declaration of Independence and Baekbeomilji (Diary of Kim Gu). Going forward, the city plans to continuously expand exhibition materials through increased donations and citizen-participatory programs.

In addition, the city will expand educational and cultural content aligned with contemporary trends, including renewed focus on local independence movement history, strengthened experiential and educational programs for youth, and the introduction of digital-based immersive exhibitions.

The city also plans to enhance visitor engagement by operating exhibition docent programs, outdoor experiential activities, and commemorative events that can be enjoyed by both citizens and tourists.

In particular, Busan Metropolitan City will strengthen linkages with its veterans’ affairs policies to reaffirm the legacy of Busan’s independence movement and convey its spirit and values to future generations.

To put into practice the principle of “patriotism in everyday life, patriotism for all,” the city will significantly reinforce its veterans’ policies in 2026, including expanding eligibility for veterans’ honorary allowances, implementing differentiated payments for war veterans, improving memorial facilities, and organizing overseas visits to historical sites through the Busan Gwangbok Expedition.

Following the opening of the Memorial Hall, it will be operated in connection with these “everyday patriotism” policies. In cooperation with the Office of Education and veterans’ organizations, the Memorial Hall is expected to serve as a living venue for history education by hosting special exhibitions and youth education programs.

Mayor Park Heong-joon is expected to state, “Busan is a city that was a center of the anti-Japanese independence movement and is imbued with a passionate spirit of independence,” adding, “We will revive that spirit as a value of our time and develop the Busan Independence Movement Memorial Hall into a leading national space for patriotism and history, where future generations can take pride.”