The life and spirit of independence activist Han Soo-ja, who shouted for independence at the age of eighteen at Baehwa Women's School in Seoul during the Japanese occupation, will be highlighted in her hometown.
The Yanggu Modern History Museum will hold a special exhibition titled 'Eighteen-Year-Old Han Soo-ja, Calling for Independence Again' from August 25 to October 31.
According to Yanggu County on August 20, the exhibition aims to inform the local community about the life of Han Soo-ja and the historical significance of the independence movement at Baehwa Women's School in 1920.
On March 1, 1920, while attending Baehwa Women's School, Han participated in a demonstration commemorating the first anniversary of the March 1 Movement alongside her fellow students.
The students shouted for independence from the schoolyard and the hills behind the dormitory. This protest by Baehwa students demonstrated that the March 1 Movement of 1919 was not a one-time event but continued into the following year, inspiring student activism.
As a result of her participation, Han was arrested by the Japanese police and put on trial along with 23 fellow students. Records from the National Archives indicate that Han was 18 years old at the time, with her hometown listed as Yanggu County, Gangwon Province. On April 5, 1920, the Gyeongseong District Court sentenced her to six months in prison, suspended for two years, for violating the so-called Security Law.
The fact that an eighteen-year-old girl from Yanggu was punished by the Japanese judicial system for calling for independence in Seoul is documented in the court records. The government recognized Han's contributions to the independence movement and posthumously honored her as a national hero in 2021.
This exhibition will chronologically showcase her birth, upbringing, time at Baehwa Women's School, participation in the independence movement, and her life thereafter. A documentary video capturing Han's life will also be presented.
The exhibition will feature sections titled 'A Name Remembered Again in Yanggu, Han Soo-ja,' 'The Child Born in Yanggu, Han Soo-ja,' 'Promises Made at Baehwa,' 'The Shouts of Girls Echoing on March 1, 1920, at Pilwondae Hill,' 'Spring in Seodaemun Prison,' and 'Unyielding Green: The Eternal Footprints of Resistance.'
The opening ceremony will take place on August 25 at 2 p.m. in the lobby of the Yanggu Modern History Museum, with attendance expected from Yanggu County Mayor Kim Wang-kyu, county council members, and local community leaders.
Yanggu County plans to use this exhibition to raise awareness of the contributions of local independence activists and to allow residents and visitors to engage closely with the history of the independence movement.
Park Hyun-jeong, head of the Yanggu County Tourism and Culture Department, stated, 'This is a meaningful opportunity to share the life and ideals of Han Soo-ja, who called for the country's independence at such a young age. We hope many residents and visitors will take this time to reflect on Han Soo-ja's courage and love for her country.'
* This article has been translated by AI.
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