State decorations awarded for contribution to projects marking 80th anniv. of Korea's independence

Seoul, August 3 - Prime Minister Han Seong-sook honored 68 individuals for their roles in the government's 80th anniversary commemorations of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule. Among the recipients were Lee Jong-chan, a former lawmaker and leader of the Heritage of Korean Independence, and Yuji Hosaka, a naturalized South Korean from Japan and a professor at Korea University.

Lee received the Moran Medal for serving as co-chair of the committee overseeing the commemorative projects, while Hosaka was awarded a presidential citation for his efforts to prevent historical distortions related to the disputed Dokdo islets and the issue of wartime sexual slaves, known as comfort women. Prime Minister Han emphasized the importance of accurately documenting the history of the independence movement and remembering it alongside the people, stating that it is a duty to make the Republic of Korea, established on the sacrifices of patriotic martyrs, a fairer and more peaceful nation for future generations.