The late Sohn Kee-chung once confessed, “I was envious of my teammate who won the gold medal.” He explained that the reason was because the winner held a laurel tree sapling as a souvenir, which conveniently covered the Japanese flag on his chest. His remark reflected the deep sorrow of a nation under Japanese colonial rule at the time. (Photo courtesy of the Sohn Kee-chung Memorial Foundation)
SEOUL, August 1 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea’s Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs has designated the 1936 Berlin Olympics “Erased Rising Sun” incident—where Korean newspapers removed the Japanese flag from the uniform of marathon gold medalist Sohn Kee-chung—as the “Independence Movement of August 2025.”
Dong-A Ilbo’s August 25, 1936 edition featuring the article “Our Honorable Son, Sohn”
(Photo Credit: Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs)
At the time, Sohn, a Korean athlete under Japanese colonial rule, won the marathon representing Japan.
His victory sparked national pride among Koreans, but it also ignited controversy when the Chosun JoongAng Ilbo and Dong-A Ilbo published a photograph of the medal ceremony with the Japanese flag on Sohn’s uniform deliberately removed.
Under Japan’s so-called “Cultural Rule” that allowed limited Korean-run newspapers, press censorship remained tightly controlled, especially as militarism intensified during the Second Sino-Japanese War.
The altered photo was perceived by colonial authorities as an act of defiance.
The Japanese police responded swiftly: Dong-A Ilbo was suspended for ten months, and its staff were detained and interrogated. Chosun JoongAng Ilbo voluntarily halted publication and ultimately shut down.
The incident became a powerful symbol of media resistance and national consciousness under colonial oppression. South Korean officials now recognize the newspapers’ editorial decision as a courageous expression of Korean identity and a pivotal moment in the country’s broader independence struggle.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
