Park Ji-won is a writer for The Korea Times who has been covering a wide range of topics from Korea’s culture to its politics. An avid journalism enthusiast to the core, Ji-won brings a thoughtful and unique perspective to every topic she covers. On weekends, you'll often find her contemplating life’s purpose on a yoga mat — with a cup of quality tea in hand. A native Korean speaker by birth and fluent in English through her work, she went to college in Japan and is learning Chinese and French — hoping to add Polish, Russian and Thai to the mix.
Moon presides over repatriation ceremony for remains of Korean independence fighters in Kazakhstan
The grave of independence fighter Kye Bong-woo in Kazakhstan. Yonhap
By Park Ji-won
By Park Ji-won
President Moon Jae-in presided over a repatriation ceremony for the remains of two Korean independence fighters and their wives who fought against Japanese colonial rule in Kazakhstan, Sunday. The remains of Kye Bong-woo and Hwang Woon-jung, independent fighters who were buried in Nur-Sultan, the capital city of Kazakhstan, and their wives were moved to the presidential aircraft and will be returned to South Korea today. Moon, who is on his business trip to three Central Asian countries, held such an event for the first time outside of the country, the presidential office said.
The repatriation ceremonies were organized to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the March 1 independence movement and the establishment of a provisional government.
Kye, who had served as a lawmaker at the provisional government in Shanghai since 1919, was forcibly moved to the Central Asian country in 1937. He continued to write books about Korean grammar and Korean history. He was awarded an Independence Medal in 1995.
Hwang, who participated in the March 1 Independence Movement and sent to China to avoid arrest. He later organized an independence group and fought against Japanese soldiers in Russia. He was awarded a National Medal in 2005.
The Kye couple will be buried in the Seoul National Cemetery while Hwang and his wife will be buried in the Daejeon National Cemetery.