A group of 41 descendants of activists who were involved in the Korean independence struggle, hailing from eight countries, are soon to arrive in Korea.
The descendants will arrive in Seoul on Aug. 11 from the U.S., China, Canada, Australia, Russia, Kazakhstan and Mexico, at the invitation of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. This is part of the ministry’s invitational program for descendants of activists who were involved in the struggle for Korean independence. The guests will stay until Aug. 17 and attend a formal ceremony on Aug. 15 to mark the 71st anniversary of Korea's independence from colonial rule, in August 1945.
Among the invitees are four grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Frank Schofield (1889-1970), including his 56-year-old granddaughter Lisa Gayle Schofield. Schofield was a Canadian who took pictures of arson and massacres that took place at the Jeam-ri Church in Gyeonggi-do Province, where Korean independence activists were peacefully organizing against Japanese imperial government coercion. He then diffused the pictures around the world, disclosing to the global public what was being committed in Korea.
Three grandchildren of Earnest Bethell (1872-1909), including granddaughter Susan Jane Black, 60, and grandson Tomas Owen Bethell, 57, are among the invited descendants, too.
Bethell was a U.K. journalist who published what the Joseon people were suffering under Japanese imperial rule in the Daehan Maeil Sinbo (대한 매일 신보) daily and in its English version, the Korea Daily News. The journalist is known to have said at his deathbed that, “Even if I'm going to die, please keep running the Daehan Maeil Sinbo daily and save my Korean friends.”
There will also be great-grandson David Norris Rath, 49, and great-great-grandson William Norris Rath, 16, both descended from U.S. Senator George Norris (1861-1944). Norris gave a famous speech on July 1, 1919, denouncing the Japanese imperial invasions of Korea. Norris is also known to have submitted various documents that recorded the true picture of life across Korea under the yoke of Japanese imperialism.
The invited descendants will pay a visit to the Seoul National Cemetery, to Seodaemun Prison, to the Independence Hall of Korea, to the War Memorial of Korea, and to the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History during their time in the nation. They will also attend a ceremony to commemorate Independence Day on Monday, Aug. 15.
“Revisiting traces of history, the descendants will have a chance to think about what independence has meant to the nation, as well as to how the nation still remains divided. Hopefully, they will be able to see the economic development that the nation has achieved over the past decades, feeling proud of being a descendent of their grandfathers or great-grandfathers who contributed in part to this achievement,” said an official from the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.
By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, the Independence Hall of Korea
jiae5853@korea.kr
The descendants will arrive in Seoul on Aug. 11 from the U.S., China, Canada, Australia, Russia, Kazakhstan and Mexico, at the invitation of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. This is part of the ministry’s invitational program for descendants of activists who were involved in the struggle for Korean independence. The guests will stay until Aug. 17 and attend a formal ceremony on Aug. 15 to mark the 71st anniversary of Korea's independence from colonial rule, in August 1945.
Descendants of activists involved in the struggle for Korean independence from all around the world are coming to Korea on Aug. 11. From left: Frank Schofield of Canada, Earnest Bethell of the U.K. and George Norris of the U.S. They all endeavored to tell the world about the brutal acts being committed against the Korean people by the Japanese imperial government.
Among the invitees are four grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Frank Schofield (1889-1970), including his 56-year-old granddaughter Lisa Gayle Schofield. Schofield was a Canadian who took pictures of arson and massacres that took place at the Jeam-ri Church in Gyeonggi-do Province, where Korean independence activists were peacefully organizing against Japanese imperial government coercion. He then diffused the pictures around the world, disclosing to the global public what was being committed in Korea.
Three grandchildren of Earnest Bethell (1872-1909), including granddaughter Susan Jane Black, 60, and grandson Tomas Owen Bethell, 57, are among the invited descendants, too.
Bethell was a U.K. journalist who published what the Joseon people were suffering under Japanese imperial rule in the Daehan Maeil Sinbo (대한 매일 신보) daily and in its English version, the Korea Daily News. The journalist is known to have said at his deathbed that, “Even if I'm going to die, please keep running the Daehan Maeil Sinbo daily and save my Korean friends.”
Frank Schofield returns to South Korea as a national guest in 1958.
There will also be great-grandson David Norris Rath, 49, and great-great-grandson William Norris Rath, 16, both descended from U.S. Senator George Norris (1861-1944). Norris gave a famous speech on July 1, 1919, denouncing the Japanese imperial invasions of Korea. Norris is also known to have submitted various documents that recorded the true picture of life across Korea under the yoke of Japanese imperialism.
The invited descendants will pay a visit to the Seoul National Cemetery, to Seodaemun Prison, to the Independence Hall of Korea, to the War Memorial of Korea, and to the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History during their time in the nation. They will also attend a ceremony to commemorate Independence Day on Monday, Aug. 15.
“Revisiting traces of history, the descendants will have a chance to think about what independence has meant to the nation, as well as to how the nation still remains divided. Hopefully, they will be able to see the economic development that the nation has achieved over the past decades, feeling proud of being a descendent of their grandfathers or great-grandfathers who contributed in part to this achievement,” said an official from the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs.
By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, the Independence Hall of Korea
jiae5853@korea.kr
Most popular
- Military discharge sets stage for reunion of all 7 BTS members
- BTS to mark 12th anniversary of debut with 2-week festival
- Lee Jae-myung officially sworn in as nation's 21st president
- Presidents Lee, Trump discuss tariff deal in first phone talks
- President's 1st executive order is launch of economic task force
