This 51 m-tall tower at the Independence Hall of Korea in Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do Province, symbolizes the nation's eternal spirit and commitment to independence and self-reliance. (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)

By Charles Audouin

The Independence Hall of Korea, located some 80 km south of Seoul and opened in 1987, preserves and displays the history of the liberation movement as a living site of education to learn and experience the spirit of independence. The exhibition and education halls showcase relics of the independence movement between the late 19th century and 1945.

The movement was far from confined to the Korean Peninsula. The Uibyeong (Righteous Army), March First Independence Movement, the launch of the Korean Provisional Government and Uiyeoldan (Heroic) Corps were active not only on the homefront but also in Manchuria and Shanghai, China; Vladivostok, Russia; Hawaii; the Americas; Europe; and other places around the world.

Such efforts were conducted in diverse fields ranging from politics, military and diplomacy to literature, music and media.

Lee Myung-hwa, director of the Institute of Korean Independence Movement Studies at the landmark said, "Korea's independence movement was a struggle for freedom and justice and a task for not only Korea but also a universal human value."

"The Independence Hall of Korea isn't a place to oppose or criticize Japan," she said. "Today's generation and the entire world must reflect on and share the history of that time."

The institute studies, manages and preserves data and relics related to the movement scattered in Korea and worldwide. As of this year, it surveyed 1,032 sites on Earth related to the movement mostly in China (483), the U.S. (159) and Russia (123).

Relevant data is categorized by region on the Independence Hall of Korea's official website (oversea.i815.or.kr).

Director Lee said, "We have huge room for cooperation with China in joint research and preservation projects for the sites of the independence movement, as China also suffered from Japanese aggression like Korea."

This is why the hall conducts exchanges and cooperation with China through academic conferences and cultural events.

Han Si-jun, former head of the Independence Hall of Korea, called the movement "the starting point for global awareness of Korea."

"Independence activists worked in China, Russia, the Americas and Europe to raise awareness of Korea," he said. "It was also around this time when Korea began to get widely know on the global stage such as at the Paris Peace Conference (1919-20)."

"Independence activists around the world raised global awareness of Korea in cultural sectors such as cinema, music and art," he added. "We can say the independence movement was the origin and starting point of K-culture."

The hall marks the movement's spirit through a celebratory ceremony on Aug. 15 and cultural events.

Lee Myung-hwa, director of the Institute of Korean Independence Movement Studies, on Aug. 8 responds to questions at a news conference held at the Independence Hall of Korea in Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do Province. (Charles Audouin)