The 91st memorial ceremony for militia commander Yun Hee-soon was held Saturday at the Gangwon Liberation Memorial Hall in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province.
The event also marked the 116th anniversary of National Humiliation Day — the date in 1910 when Japan formally annexed Korea — and served as an occasion for Chuncheon residents to honor the legacy of the country's first female righteous army commander.
Yun is recognized as Korea's first female militia commander. She composed patriotic songs to boost the morale of resistance fighters, organized an all-women militia unit and led the anti-Japanese independence movement. She later went into exile in China, where she continued her independence activities until her death in 1935 at the age of 75.
The ceremony, organized by the Gangwon Province chapter of the Korean Liberation Association, drew about 200 attendees, including descendants of independence movement figures, veterans' organization members, Chuncheon Mayor Yuk Dong-han and representatives from related agencies and civic groups.
The program opened with a viewing of a special hero calligraphy exhibition by artist Hwang Byeong-pil, followed by a National Humiliation Day commemoration and the Yun Hee-soon memorial ceremony held in succession.
At the memorial ceremony, attendees watched a video documenting Yun's life and anti-Japanese resistance activities, followed by incense offerings and flower tributes. The Gangwon Pen Literature Association presented a dedicatory poem, and the Bethel Children's Choir gave a commemorative performance.
Chuncheon Mayor Yuk said in his memorial address that Yun "lifted people's spirits through song, prepared for the future of independence through education and never let go of her anti-Japanese convictions until the very last moment of her life," adding that "her life is a proud chapter in Chuncheon's history and a precious legacy to pass on to the next generation."
He said "knowing history accurately and passing it on is our responsibility to protect the honor of our forebears and to convey to the next generation the value of the sovereignty and freedom we enjoy today." He added that the city would "faithfully document and share the life of militia commander Yun Hee-soon and the history of Chuncheon's righteous army, so that her spirit may live on."
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