8/12/2014

Korean independence movement - Kim Gu, About Gyeonggyojang

korean independence movement - Kim Gu, About Gyeonggyojang



The capital city of Korea is Seoul.

There are many historical sites to see in Seoul.

I will talk about Gyeonggyojang that historical sites of Korea and korean independence movement 'Kim Gu'



About Gyeonggyojang



The Korean Provisional Government was set up in Shanghai, China in 1919
and had command over the independence movement of the Korean people until Korea's liberation from Japan in 1945.

Gyeonggyojang is a historical site in which the government was based after its return home, and where President Kim Gu passed away.

The house took its name from the bridge Gyeonggyo, located near the Seodaemun Gate.

For the purpose of offering educational services to the public,
Seoul Metropolitan Government restored Gyeonggyojang as it had been, with its interiors set up as a display space.

Visitors can look over the history of the government through watching the exhibition of historical relics, photographs and documents at Gyeonggyojang.








Gyeonggyojang, the venue for the Government's ministerial meetings



After the Government's return, the first ministerial meeting was held on December 3, 1945, attended by Kim Gu, Cabinet members, and Dr. Lee Syngman, the Chief of the Korean Diplomatic Commission to the United States.

The venue of Gyeonggyojang saw a string of ministerial meetings until 1646, and became an arena in which the Korea Provisional Assembly, the Korean Liberation Army and the Korea Independence Party engaged in activities.





Exhibition remains



First copy the Baekbeom Diary and a copy the signature(1947)
☞Kim Gu presented Lim Gyeong-il with his diary on March 1, 1949.

Korean independence movement - Kim Koo's seal
☞The seal was privately used by Kim Gu

Kim Gu's Watch
☞The watch had belonged to Yun Bong-gil, and it was given to Kim Gu upon his departure for Shanghai.

Bloody cloth of Kim Gu(Registered Culture No. 439)

Declaration and signatures by the Korean Provisional Government members after their return home(Nov. 1945)





The Exhibition of Korean Provisional Government's period



Reception room(1 floor)
☞Where the Korean Provisional Government ministerial meeting took place,
and where Kim Gu received key dignitaries at home abroad.


Dining room 
☞Where a dinner party was held by the Provisional Government on December 2, 1945 and where Kim Gu's funeral was held after his death.






Reception room(2 floor)
☞Where Kim Gu held talks with Korean party leaders and ministerial meetings after the government's return.

Dining room 
☞Where President Kim Gu carried out official work and received visitors, and where he passed away on June 26, 1949.








Gyeonggyojang House was the residence of Kim Gu, an independence movement and politician, as well as the last office of the Provisional Government of Korea after returning home from Shanghai, China.

This Building was originally the home of Choi Chang-hak, an affluent businessman.

Kim Gu resided in this house for three years and seven months, after his return to Korea on November 23, 1945 until he was assassinated by Ahn Doo-hee on June 26, 1949.

During the chaotic post-liberation period, members of the provisional government held cabinet meetings here.

Historic initiatives were taken for launching the anti-trusteeship movement and negotiations between the North and South Korea.





About Korean independence movement 'Kim Gu'(1876~1949)



Kim Gu organized the Korean Patriotic Corps (KPC) in 1931. 
In the following year he led the struggle for independence with those of Yi Bong-chang and Yun Bong-gil, which generated a great response inside and outside Korea and energized the national independence movement. 
In 1940 he settled in Chongqing, China. As Premier of the KPG, he organized the Korea Independence Army and carried out full-scale anti-Japanese movements to accelerate national independence.

With the liberation of Korea, Kim Koo returned home from China in 1945. 
He carried out an anti-trusteeship movement against the United States and the Soviet Union. In 1948, spearheading the drive for unification, he opposed South Korea's general election because of its exclusion of North Korea. In the course of his activities for South-North unification, he was assassinated on June 26, 1949, by the powers impeding national unification.





Korean independence movement 'Kim Gu' Quote


I want our nation to become the most beautiful nation in the world.

I do not want our nation to become the richest and powerful nation in the world

It is sufficient that our wealth is such that it makes our lives abundant and our military such that it is able to repel others' invasion.

The only thing that K desire in infinite quantity is the power of a highly-developed culture.

This is because the power of culture both makes ourselves happy and gives happiness to others. 

-「My Desires」, 'The Nation That I Desire' -





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