S. Korea to award 283 independence fighters on 81st anniv. of Liberation Day

Seoul announced on August 13 that the South Korean government will award 283 state medals and honors to late independence fighters on the 81st anniversary of Liberation Day, commemorating the country's 1910-45 Japanese colonial rule. The veterans ministry plans to confer the Order of Merit for National Foundation to 65 individuals, the National Foundation Medal to 29 people, and the Presidential Commendation for National Foundation to 189 individuals during the Aug. 15 Liberation Day ceremony.

Among the recipients are three miners who led a 1919 independence protest with around 100 miners, marching towards a Japanese police post before being fatally shot. Choe Jun-nye, the wife of celebrated independence figure Kim Koo, will be acknowledged for her support during her husband's four-year imprisonment and her leadership of a female enlightenment movement as a teacher at a girls school.

Additionally, Kim Duk-rin, a Korean-born Chinese actor known as Jin Yan, will receive recognition for his role in producing movies that fostered anti-Japanese sentiments during the 1930s.

The ministry aims to highlight those who have not been adequately recognized for their contributions to the independence movement, including women, workers, and cultural figures. This belated recognition stems from examining historical records and conducting on-site inspections. Since the establishment of the South Korean government in 1948, the ministry has honored a total of 19,059 people as independence patriots, with 11,999 receiving the Order of Merit for National Foundation, 1,600 the National Foundation Medal, and 5,460 the Presidential Commendation for National Foundation.