97 descendants of independence fighters to visit Korea next week
This March 4 photo shows descendants of independence fighters from eight overseas countries on their visit to Cheong Wa Dae. Korea Times file
By Jung Da-min
Ninety seven descendants of independence fighters opposing Japan's colonial rule will visit South Korea next week to participate in an event commemorating the centennial of the establishment of Korea's provisional government in China.
According to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, the 97 people, all living abroad, are from 10 countries ― 46 from the United States, 23 from China, nine from Kazakhstan, five from Australia, four from Mexico, and two each from Russia, Austria, Japan, Cuba and the Netherlands.
The invitees include Ralph Ahn, the youngest son of independence activist Ahn Chang-ho who served as acting prime minister and home affairs minister in the Korean provisional government, and Robert Ahn, son of Ralph Ahn.
Nineteen descendants of key figures from the Korean provisional government, including Deputy Prime Minister Kim Kyu-sik, Prime Ministers Roh Baek-lin and Yi Dong-hwi, Vice Foreign Affairs Minister Hyun Soon and other cabinet members were also invited.
Also among invitees were Tony Ahn, a great grandson of independence hero Ahn Jung-geun, who assassinated Ito Hirobumi, former prime minister of Japan in China in 1909.
During their visit to South Korea from April 8 to 14, the descendants of independence patriots will pay tribute at the Seoul National Cemetery, attend the centennial ceremony for the provisional government and visit Seodaemun Independence Park, Kim Koo Museum and Library in Seoul and the Demilitarized Zone in the border area.
The invitation for the 97 came as the part of the government's plan to invite about 200 descendants of overseas independence patriots this year.
Sixty six descendants of patriots from eight countries visited South Korea in March.