China News Agency, Seoul, August 14th: Han Shijun, director of the Korean Independence Memorial Hall: Why should South Korea and China jointly commemorate the history of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression?
China News Agency reporter Liu Xu
August 15 is the anniversary of Japan's defeat and announcing its unconditional surrender, as well as the 77th anniversary of the liberation of the Korean peninsula.
This period of anti-Japanese history records the story of China and South Korea jointly fighting against the fascist aggressors, and explains the historical truth for future generations to remember.
A few days ago, Han Shijun, honorary professor of the Department of History at Dankook University in South Korea and director of the Korea Independence Memorial Hall, accepted an exclusive interview with China News Agency "East West Question", recalling the history of the Korean-Chinese joint war of resistance, and discussing the practical significance of commemorating this history.
The following is a summary of the interview transcript:
China News Service: Please briefly introduce the background and opportunities for the establishment of the Korean Independence Museum.
Han Shijun:
The establishment of the Korean Independence Museum is to correct the phenomenon of Japan's distortion of history.
In 1982, Japan denied and glorified its history of aggression against Korea in history textbooks.
The Korean people were outraged by this.
Meetings have been held across South Korea to denounce Japan's distortion of history, sparking discussions about building an independence memorial in the process.
From children to the elderly, many citizens have donated money to build memorials.
In August 1987, we established the Independence Memorial Hall using donations raised by the nation.
China News Agency reporter: It is understood that there are two exhibition halls in the Independence Memorial Hall revolving around the former site of the Korean Independence Government in China. Could you please introduce that history?
Han Shijun:
South Korea's independence movement is carried out in Korea, China, Russia, the United States, Europe and other parts of the world, but its center is in China.
In April 1919, the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea was established in Shanghai, China.
After that, the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea remained active in China until its return in 1945.
From the three northeastern provinces, Beijing, Tianjin, Inner Mongolia, Baotou, and Taihang Mountains in the north, to Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kunming, Hangzhou, Zhenjiang, Changsha, Liuzhou, and Chongqing in the south, the footprints of Korean independence activists can be said to have traveled all over China. In the process, a close relationship was established with the Chinese people and revolutionaries.
On August 10, 2012, a child stopped in front of the exhibition "The Koreans' Anti-Japanese Armed Struggle in China" at the Memorial Hall of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Liu Guanguan
In order to understand the history of the Korean independence movement in China, South Korea has done a lot (investigation).
In 1991, we went to Xi'an, Shaanxi, China to investigate the story of the Korean Liberation Army in China. There I met an old Chinese man surnamed Guan, who said about the Korean Liberation Army: "The Liberation Army and we are brothers." Listen. At the moment of this sentence, I was deeply moved, and I will never forget it.
Korean independence activists and Chinese revolutionaries also shared this sentiment, and based on it, they established a deep friendship.
There are many such cases, including the China-Korea Mutual Aid Society.
In the early 1920s, many regions including Shanghai, Nanjing, Hankou, Changsha, and Zhuzhou established China-Korea Mutual Aid Associations.
To put it simply, the China-Korea Mutual Aid Society is a friendship group participated by people from South Korea and China, seeking mutual cooperation.
At the same time, Chinese revolutionaries assisted and supported the Korean independence movement.
The Army Lecture Hall in Yunnan, the Lecture Hall in Guiyang, and the Whampoa Military Academy in Guangzhou have all recruited many Korean youths to train as military cadres, all of which depend on the help of Chinese revolutionaries.
China News Agency reporter: Could you please introduce some exchange and cooperation projects between the Independence Memorial Hall and Chinese institutions in the field of commemorating the common history of the Anti-Japanese War, as well as future cooperation plans.
Han Shijun:
The Independence Memorial Hall has been in close cooperation and exchanges with the Chinese government and relevant institutions since its establishment 35 years ago.
The most representative ones are Shanghai, Jiaxing, Hangzhou, Zhenjiang, Changsha, Guangzhou, Liuzhou, Chongqing and other places where the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea has been active. The exhibition hall of the former site of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea has been established, and there is also the Memorial Hall of the Korean Volunteers on Mount Taihang.
In addition, under the care of the leaders of South Korea and China, we also set up the Ahn Jong-geun Memorial Hall in Harbin, China, and the memorial stone of the former site of the Korean Liberation Army garrison in Xi'an.
In October 2014, citizens took pictures at the entrance of the Memorial Hall of the Former Hangzhou Site of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Li Chenyun
Not only that, the Independence Memorial Hall also has close exchanges and cooperation with the Memorial Hall of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in Beijing, the Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by the Japanese Invaders in Nanjing, and the September 18 History Museum in Shenyang.
Many memorial halls in China and our independence memorial hall have one thing in common, that is, publicity and promotion to commemorate the war of resistance against Japan.
In particular, the Memorial Hall of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the Independence Memorial Hall were established in the same period, and our purpose is also the same.
The Independence Memorial Hall has signed mutual exchange agreements with these memorial halls to jointly promote various activities such as material and academic exchanges, and alternate exhibitions.
Not only that, the Independence Hall also invited the employees of the Chinese Memorial Hall to the Independence Hall for Korean language training, and to learn from each other about the history of Korea and China. These activities have been going on for 15 years.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Korea and China. The Korea Independence Memorial Hall and the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression Memorial Hall will hold alternate exhibitions.
The Memorial Hall of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression will exhibit documentary paintings about China's War of Resistance against Japan at the Independence Hall from August 11. The Independence Hall will be held at the Memorial Hall of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in Beijing from September 3, with the theme of the Korean-Chinese joint war of resistance. special exhibition.
On August 11, 2022, the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression Art Exhibition opened at the Korean Independence Memorial Hall.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Liu Xu
China News Service: In August last year, the Independence Hall held a special exhibition "South Korea-China Joint War of Resistance". What do you think is the practical significance of commemorating the history of the joint war of resistance between China and South Korea?
Han Shijun:
First of all, in the first half of the 20th century, South Korea and China had a common history of fighting against Japanese imperialism, and they went through great pains and trials.
The two confront a "common enemy" and face a "common destiny".
In the end, Korea was liberated from the colonial rule of Japanese imperialism, and China also won the victory against Japanese imperialist aggression.
Therefore, I think we should remember and commemorate such a history of the joint war of resistance between South Korea and China.
From another point of view, Japanese imperialism invaded Korea and China in the first half of the 20th century, brought great pain and test to both countries, and destroyed peace in East Asia.
Not only that, the Japanese imperialists also carried out inhumane massacres on the civilians of South Korea and China, and committed the vicious act of forcibly recruiting "comfort women".
On March 27, 2013, dozens of South Koreans gathered in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul and shouted slogans next to the statue of a girl symbolizing the victimized comfort women, demanding that the Japanese government formally apologize and make compensation for the issue of comfort women. .
Photo by China News Agency reporter Liu Guanguan
Japan's invasion of South Korea and China is obviously a historical fact, the Nanjing Massacre is a fact, and the forced recruitment of "comfort women" is also a historical fact, and the traces of these historical facts still exist today.
We still have "comfort women" victims alive, South Korea has a memorial hall for victims of "comfort women", and Nanjing also has a memorial hall for compatriots killed in the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese invaders.
However, the Japanese right-wing forces are trying to distort the history of aggression and deny historical crimes by tampering with history textbooks.
Therefore, I believe that it is necessary for South Korea and China to jointly deal with the distortion of history by the Japanese right-wing forces and publicize it to the international community.
Such work is very necessary.
China News Agency reporter: What kind of cooperation can China and South Korea carry out in dealing with the Japanese right-wing forces distorting the history of aggression?
Han Shijun:
On this issue, I have a few suggestions: First, it is necessary for South Korea and China to jointly commemorate the victory of South Korea and China against Japanese imperialist aggression.
Second, it is necessary for South Korea and China to cooperate with each other, collect and organize materials on the war with Japan, publish a collection of materials on the Korean-Chinese joint war against Japan, and encourage scholars from both countries to participate in the study of this history and achieve academic results.
Third, South Korea and China can explore how to contribute to East Asia and world peace based on their shared historical experience.
In conclusion, South Korea and China have experienced pain and trials due to Japanese imperialist aggression in the first half of the 20th century, and have a "common destiny" as well as a "common historical experience" of mutual cooperation to defeat Japanese imperialist aggression.
Therefore, I think it is necessary to study and remember these historical experiences together, jointly deal with the problem of Japanese right-wing forces distorting history and denying the history of aggression, and based on past historical experience, promote the development of ROK-China relations.
(Finish)
Interviewee Profile:
Photo by China News Agency reporter Liu Xu
Han Shijun, born in Yeoju, South Korea in 1954, graduated from the Department of History of Dankook University and received a doctorate in history and literature from Inha University.
He studied the history of the Korean Independence Movement, centered on the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea and the Korean Restoration Army.
From 1988 to 2019, he was a professor of the Department of History at Dankook University, and since 2021, he has been the director of the Korea Independence Museum.
His major works include "Research on the Korean Liberation Army" (1993), "Leadership of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea" (2016), "Historical Monopoly" (2017), "Korea and China's Joint War of Resistance Against Japanese Imperialist Invasion" (2019), "Republic of Korea" Interim Government" (2021), etc.