Song Hye-kyo spotlights Korea's independence movement in Paris
Professor Seo Kyoung-duk, left, of Sungshin Women's University's College of Humanities and Convergence Arts, poses with actor Song Hye-kyo. / Captured from Seo's Instagram
In anticipation of the Summer Olympics in Paris, actor Song Hye-kyo and professor Seo Kyoung-duk, known for his efforts to promote Korea globally, have donated 10,000 copies of guides detailing Korea's independence movement against the 1910-45 Japanese occupation to further raise awareness about the history predating the establishment of the Republic of Korea.
On Wednesday, Seo, a professor at Sungshin Women's University, said the leaflet, available in Korean and French, was given to the Section Education Ambassade de la Republique de Coree en France, or the Korean Education Center Paris, and Maison de la Coree at the Cite Internationale Universitaire de Paris, which provides housing for university students.
The guide offers comprehensive details on Seo Young-hae (1902-?), a key Korean independence activist based in Paris, and Agence Korea, a news agency through which Seo communicated European developments to the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. Additionally, it covers the former location of the Paris branch of the Provisional Government and the original site where a friendship association between France and South Korea was established.
For those unable to visit Paris, the leaflet can be downloaded from the History of Korea website.
Seen is a leaflet about the Korean independence movement against the 1910-45 Japanese occupation in Paris. Professor Seo Kyoung-duk of Sungshin Women’s University said Wednesday that he and actor Song Hye-kyo donated the guidebook to the Section Education Ambassade de la Republique de Coree en France — Korean Education Center Paris — and Maison de la Coree of Cite internationale universitaire de Paris. Captured from Seo’s Instagram
This initiative is part of Song and Seo’s ongoing efforts over the past 13 years to promote Korea’s independence movement sites abroad and raise awareness about independence activists through educational materials, Korean-language signs and sculptures of independence fighters at some 36 sites.
The professor said they produced this guide with the hope of generating more interest in Korea's independence movement and the historical sites where important activities took place.
"With the upcoming Paris Olympics, many Koreans and foreigners are expected to visit Paris and we wanted to widely introduce them to Korea’s independence movement sites (in the city)," Seo said on his Instagram.
"The preservation status of the country’s independence movement sites remaining overseas is not that good. Continued interest and visits from our citizens will be the greatest force in promoting and preserving these neglected independence movement sites abroad."