Hwaseong Mayor Jung Myung-geun: "I Will Fulfill My Responsibility and Role in Honoring and Respecting Independence Movement Martyrs"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Lee Su-won] The 'Joint Farewell Ceremony for Gojuri Independence Martyrs,' dedicated to those who sacrificed their lives for the nation, was held on the 10th at the Hwaseong Independence Movement Memorial Hall.

The joint farewell ceremony, hosted by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, was attended by approximately 150 people, including bereaved families of Gojuri, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kang Jung-ae, Hwaseong Mayor Jung Myung-geun, the head of the Gyeonggi branch of the Korean Independence League, and members of the league. The ceremony proceeded with flower offerings and incense burning, presentation of the Order of National Founding, followed by eulogies and farewell remarks.

The Gojuri Independence Martyrs were victims of Japanese military and police retaliation and massacre targeting Governor Kim Hung-yeol and his family, who led the independence movement in the Hwaseong area of Gyeonggi Province in 1919.

Accordingly, residents of Gojuri collected the remains of six members of the Kim family who were sacrificed and enshrined them at the Paltan-myeon Public Cemetery. The bereaved families, Cheondoism followers, and Hwaseong City have held commemorative services every April 15th.

Following the ceremony, the spirits of the Gojuri Independence Martyrs were conveyed to the National Daejeon Cemetery with full military honors by the Ministry of National Defense Honor Guard and enshrined in Section 7 for Independence Merit Recipients.

Hwaseong Mayor Jung Myung-geun remarked, "I pray for the eternal rest of the Gojuri Independence Martyrs who sacrificed their precious lives for the nation," and added, "Hwaseong City will continue to fulfill its responsibility and role in honoring and respecting those who sacrificed for the nation."