Celebrating the 81st Liberation Day in Korea
August 15, 2026, marked the 81st anniversary of Liberation Day.
After being forcibly annexed through the Eulsa Treaty, the nation regained its sovereignty after 35 years.
Now, 81 years have passed.
Every year on Liberation Day, we commemorate and honor those who sacrificed for the country.
During this holiday, I visited the home of the late Son Byeong-hee.
In Sucheong-dong, Dangjin City, the restored home of Son Byeong-hee has been relocated.
In celebration of the 2024 Liberation Day, the Dangjin Liberation Memorial Tower has been established.
Son Byeong-hee was the third leader of Cheondogyo and one of the 33 representatives of the March 1st Movement, leading the declaration of independence.
Born in Cheongju, he became the third leader of Donghak and renamed it Cheondogyo.
He led the Donghak Peasant Revolution as a commander of the Northern faction in 1894 but went into hiding after its failure.
From August 1898 to October 1899, he stayed in Modong, Sucheong-ri, Dangjin.
It is said that he engaged in Donghak activities during this time.
The home of Son Byeong-hee has been verified based on records of Korean Cheondogyo teachers.
In 2014, it was restored and relocated to the Forest Light Community Park as part of the Sucheong District 2 urban development project.
The old house, with its earthen walls and thatched roof, harmonizes with the surrounding area between the Sucheong Elementary School and the apartment complex.
The main house and walls have been restored, while only the foundation stones of the outer building remain.
The site of two buildings in the front yard is marked with foundation stones.
During his 1 year and 3 months in Sucheong-dong, Son Byeong-hee led the independence declaration and worked to revive Donghak.
Behind the old house, a gentle slope leads to the community park.
Despite the rainy weather during the Liberation Day holiday, children enjoy riding their bicycles in the park.
The park connects to small gardens and plazas along the stairs and hills.
Adjacent to Sucheong Elementary School, many children visit the area.
At the end of the park stands the Dangjin Liberation Memorial Tower.
Designated as a national memorial facility by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, it was established on August 15, 2024.
The tower features introductions to figures like Jeong Ju-won, who fought in the righteous army, and others involved in independence movements.
During the Liberation Day holiday, a floral tribute was also laid.
The memorial tower is designed in the shape of a fluttering Korean flag, symbolizing the painful history of struggle.
The stories of independence movements in Dangjin are also shared.
The home of Son Byeong-hee has become a place for historical experiences in daily life, allowing visitors to pause and honor the sacrifices and noble spirits of the past.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/dangjin2030/224385343186
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