This document, provided by the veterans ministry on Aug. 14, 2024, shows the name of Kim Seong-jae (Alfonso Kim), a second-generation Korean immigrant who played a key role in uniting the Korean community in Cuba to support South Korea’s independence movement during Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Aug. 14 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea will confer state medals and awards on 121 late independence fighters, including those who were based in Cuba, to honor their courage in the resistance movement against Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, the veterans ministry said Wednesday.
The independence fighters will be posthumously awarded when the country commemorates the 79th anniversary of Liberation Day on Thursday, with their descendants receiving the awards on their behalf, the ministry said.
Among the awardees are three activists who supported the independence movement from Cuba: Kim Seong-jae, a second-generation Korean immigrant who played a key role in uniting the Korean community in the Caribbean nation to support the movement, Lee Jong-heon, who served as the leader of the Association of Korean Residents in Cuba, and Kim Sang-jun, who contributed to the movement in both Mexico and Cuba.
The ministry said it recognized the three independence fighters in light of the establishment of South Korea’s diplomatic ties with Cuba in February.
Other activists to be honored include Park Ik-seong, who helped secure military supplies in the southern counties of Gochang and Muju, Go Deok-hwa, who was active in the Korean National Association in Hawaii, and eleven members of the Won family who joined the March 1st Movement, according to the ministry.
With the latest recognitions, South Korea has honored 18,139 independence fighters since 1949.
(Yonhap)
