Japan Urged to Aid Recovering Ahns Remains
By Do Je-hae
Staff Reporter
Ahead of the 100th anniversary of independence fighter Ahn Jung-geun's execution on March 26, there are growing demands that Japan become more cooperative in locating the lost remains of the Korean patriot who was executed for assassinating Hirobumi Ito, the first resident-general of Korea who had been leading Japan's annexation of the country.
Kim Yang, minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs (MPVA), called on Tokyo Friday for information about the whereabouts of Ahn's remains.
"Only the Japanese government has the access to the relevant information," Kim told Yonhap, urging Tokyo to disclose relevant details to recover his remains. "Japan has a reputation for having particular expertise in keeping historical records, which leads us to believe that they do have information on Ahn's remains."
Kim is the grandson of Kim Gu (1876-1949), one of the most respected political leaders in the history of modern Korea and a staunch supporter of Ahn.
As leader of the Provisional Government established in Shanghai, China, in 1919, Kim Gu devoted himself to the independent reunification of the Korean peninsula after the division of the country immediately following liberation in 1945.
Kim Yang's attention to retrieving Ahn's remains is partly associated with the close and long-standing relations between his grandfather and Ahn. It was Kim Gu who looked after Ahn's family in China after his execution and tried to have his remains repatriated to Korea.
Minister Kim stressed the importance of "interaction with Japanese authorities for accurate facts, which will facilitate a more scientific search." Kim also showed his opposition to Japanese Emperor Akihito's visit to Korea as long as the search for Ahn's remains is unresolved.
Ahn's last wish to "be buried in the motherland upon independence" should be honored, said Kim.
Previously, the authorities conducted a month-long search from March to April in 2008 to locate Ahn's remains, which were believed to be scattered around a hill northwest of the prison he was sent to, in the Chinese city of Lushun. The mission ended unsuccessfully.
The ministry made an official diplomatic request to the Japanese government regarding Ahn's remains in April 2008, but the latter said it did not have any relevant information. Kim said that even the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was unable to get a straight answer because the information was probably permanently classified.
The ministry will hold a memorial service for Ahn on March 25 with the participation of Ahn's surviving descendants.