On the occasion of the ‘Unofficial Medal Exhibition’… Descendants of five independence fighters found in Yesan

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Jeon Myeong-hoon = The medal for independence service that had not been passed down due to unidentified descendants is now back in its rightful place thanks to the 'Undelivered Medal Exhibition'.

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs announced on the 9th that among the five independence fighters from Daeheung Elementary School in Yesan-gun, South Chungcheong Province, medals will be handed down to four descendants, including Governors Kim Ki-gi, Kim Dong-wook, Jeong Ok-seop, and Kim Yong-tae, excluding Lee Hee-ju, who received the medal in advance, at the Seoul Regional Veterans Affairs Office on the 10th. The medal was given to Lee Hee-ju's descendants in advance due to health reasons.

These five independence fighters from Daeheung Elementary School were posthumously awarded the Presidential Citation in 2021 for their contributions to the independence movement in Yesan in March 1919, but were unable to pass down the medal because their descendants were not confirmed.

Then, the 'Unreceived Medal Exhibition' held at Daeheung Elementary School for two months starting last June became an opportunity to search for descendants.

As a result of this exhibition, the descendants of Jeong Ok-seop, who had first inquired, were confirmed as descendants through the deliberation of the descendant verification committee, and the descendants of four other independence fighters were also able to find their descendants one by one.

Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Kwon Oh-eul said, “Compared to the noble dedication of our ancestors, it is a late handover, but it is very meaningful that they are now returning to their bereaved families.”

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs is holding the 'Unknown Independence Merit Medal Exhibition' to commemorate the achievements of independence fighters, inform local residents and students of the history of the local independence movement, and also promote the project to find descendants of unidentified meritorious persons.

Currently, exhibitions of medals for independence meritorious deeds are currently being held at Yangsan Independence Hall, Yecheon Museum, Honam Patriotic Memorial Hall (Suncheon), Jeonju History Museum, Gunsan Modern History Museum, and Seosan Cultural Center.