Republic of Korea in Yeokcheon - Chapter 96



Only Krnovel

#96. Our world was like that

“And if we are talking about having him be the design character on our banknotes, why is our government sitting still? “How many years has it been since you became independent?”

“… … .”

“… … .”

There was silence in the conference room for a moment, and even Go Seok-man, who had spoken without thinking, thought it was a mistake.

Because there was no way Kim Gyu-sik knew about Yu Gwan-sun.

At that time, Lee Kang-cheol opened his mouth and began to explain.

“There are some circumstances to that. Who is Yu Gwan-sun, why do people in this era not know, and why is our government unable to make it widely known? … .”

Yu Gwan-sun (柳寬順).

Anyone who has been educated and lived in modern times cannot fail to know this person.

As Ko Seok-man said, an independent martyr who learned as ‘Yu Gwan-sun’s older sister’ during her childhood and became her eternal older sister.

Yu Gwan-sun attended Ewha School during the March 1st Movement, but when schools were forced to close, she went down to her hometown, Cheonan. There, she participated in the ‘Cheonan Aunae Manse Movement’ and was arrested and tortured. Eventually, she died on September 28, 1920, the following year. He died at the age of 17.

There were differing theories about the cause of death, but according to the list of March 1st Movement victims discovered during the construction of the new embassy in Japan in 2019 (investigated by the Korean government in 1953), ‘He was arrested by Japanese soldiers due to the March 1st Independence Movement and was in prison. It was written ‘murdered.’

In other words, he was beaten to death.

Many independence activists were imprisoned in Japanese prisons, but not all of them died in prison.

However, the fact that a girl in her late teens was beaten to death is proof of how fiercely she fought even in prison.

It’s not just her.

Her father, Yoo Jung-kwon, was a local official at the time who worked hard for education and enlightenment. He also took the lead in the independence demonstration at Aunae Market along with Yu Gwan-sun’s mother, Mrs. Lee So-je, and was killed by a bullet. Her older brother, Yu Woo-seok, also went to school in Gongju. While attending school, he led the independence movement and was imprisoned a total of 11 times until liberation.

In short, the entire family was an independent family that devoted themselves to the independence movement.

Strangely enough, it is not well known to modern people.

In any case, there was no doubt that Yu Gwan-sun was an independence martyr who should be respected and revered.

However, in this era, not many people knew Yu Gwan-sun’s name.

No, in fact, it would be correct to say that it is almost non-existent.

This is because Yu Gwan-sun is currently just one of the 7,509 martyrs who were sacrificed during the March 1st Movement.

How many independence martyrs and doctors were sacrificed from the time of the Korean Empire when the Japanese invasion began until the expeditionary force drove out the Japanese army and recovered the Korean Peninsula in 1944?

Also, how many independence leaders devoted themselves to their country’s independence despite being arrested, imprisoned, and tortured at home and abroad?

However, realistically, it was difficult for us to remember the names of so many independent branches.

Therefore, although it is very inconvenient to evaluate and grade the achievements of the independence movement, it had no choice but to do so, and the current government was also in the process of doing so.

Then, it seems that people like General Ahn Jung-geun, Dr. Yun Bong-gil, and Dr. Lee Bong-chang made their name widely known by making remarkable acts of courage, or like General Hong Beom-do, they naturally made their name known by making great military achievements, or others like Ahn Chang-ho, Kim Gu, and Yeo Woon-hyung. , Kim Chang-sook, Kim Gyu-sik, Lee Si-young, and Lee Gwan-sul, we cannot help but remember the names of independent governors who led the independence movement and became leaders.

And although there were fewer female independence activists than men as the times changed, many women still sacrificed themselves for independence.

Kim Gyu-sik’s niece, Maria Kim, who is in the conference room right now, did the same, as did Esther Hwang, who guided Yu Gwan-sun at Ewha School, and Kim Ran-sa (Haran-sa), who was poisoned in 1919 while going to the Paris Peace Conference with King Uichin’s wheat, and was a socialist modern activist. There were numerous female leaders of the independence movement, including Park Jin-hong, female general on a white horse Kim Myeong-si, Lee Hyo-jeong, and Lee Byeong-hee, who were not properly evaluated.

But why did Yu Gwan-sun become like an icon of female independence activists in modern times?

If you ask modern people right now, how many of them would be able to answer correctly who Ransa Kim, Maria Kim, and Esther Hwang are?

And can this really be said to be fair?

Of course, it is a human job, so it cannot be perfect, and in the modern history of Korea, the country was split in two while pro-Japanese factions were not properly liquidated, and dictators ruled the country for a long time, which is a factor that has not been properly evaluated. This will be big.

For example, Woodang Lee Hoi-young was only posthumously awarded the Independence Medal, which is the 3rd grade of the Order of Merit for National Foundation, but Lim Byeong-jik, who was Woonam’s secretary, received the 1st grade, the Order of the Republic of Korea.

Independent governors such as Lee Dong-nyeong, Lee Dong-hwi, Lee Bong-chang, Lee Sang-seol, and Shin Chae-ho are only second-grade presidents.

In addition, since there were fake and pro-Japanese people who received it, we could see how absurd the honorary award for modern independence activists was.

However, it is difficult to find the reason why Yu Gwan-sun, who was not well known even immediately after independence, became the overwhelming leader among female independence activists in modern times, and was even later posthumously awarded the rank of 3rd class independent general to 1st class Korean national general through petition in the poor decoration system. .

So how did Yu Gwan-sun become so famous?

Even his father, Yoo Jung-kwon, and his mother, Lee So-je, who died after being shot, received a patriotic medal of the 4th grade, and Jo In-won, who led the Cheonan Aunae Market independence movement and died of an illness acquired while in prison, was also a 5th-grade Patriotic Medal.

This included the impure intentions of those united by the common denominator of school, religion, and pro-Japanese relations.

Ewha Hakdang was once the birthplace of the women’s independence movement.

As the Japanese colonial period continued, key figures in the academy gradually defected to extreme pro-Japanese factions.

Kim Hwal-ran, Mo Yun-suk, Noh Cheon-myeong, etc.

However, when Japan fell, which seemed like it would last forever, they needed their own defense shield.

An icon of independence that will cover up their pro-Japanese actions.

So, the first Korean textbook ‘Cheolsu and Baduki’ created by Park Chang-hae began to gather momentum and decided to put Yu Gwan-sun forward. The instigators were Shin Bong-jo, the principal of Ewha School at the time, Park In-deok, and Jeon Young-taek, a novelist and Methodist pastor.

What do they have in common?

They were all affiliated with the pro-Japanese faction, a specific religion, and the Ewha School established by that specific religion, and they worked hard to commemorate Yu Gwan-sun in order to cover up their actions. Jeon Yeong-taek even used his good writing skills to write ‘The Martyr Yu Gwan-sun’. By publishing it, Yu Gwan-sun was promoted to ‘Joan of Arc who saved Joseon’, highlighting her as a myth-like figure.

Absurdly, Martyr Yu Gwan-sun ended up becoming a protector for those who acted as stooges of the Japanese Empire, which she sacrificed herself to resist.

And in the original history of failing to properly purge pro-Japanese factions, ‘they’, who were part of the core of society, moved and became icons of patriotism.

Lee Kang-cheol’s long explanation has ended.

“Do you understand? That’s why Teacher Woosa doesn’t know about martyr Yu Gwan-sun. The people I just mentioned all disappeared into the dew of execution. And that is why we killed the pro-Japanese faction so thoroughly, in some ways, that it seemed a bit excessive, despite the requests of some independent governors to save us.”

“Huh… … .”

“Speaking of female independence activists, I would like to add that some of the socialist activists were arrested by the police and even tortured. We did not provide any assistance to the North Korean regime. Perhaps Governor Lee Hyo-jeong said that. His great-grandfather was Lee Gyu-rak, leader of the volunteer army, his grandfather and three great-grandfathers all participated in the anti-Japanese movement, and two uncles and an aunt also participated in the independence movement. ah! Martyr Lee Yuk-sa is also from his family, as are governors Lee Gwang-ho, Lee Young-ho, Lee Won-young, etc. “Literally, the entire family participated in the independence movement.”

“Hehehehe.”

“Also, it is said that his aunt, Governor Lee Byeong-hee, hid his independence movement even from his children. Governor Lee Byeong-hee? As a woman, she was tortured with heated iron skewers on her parts that were humiliating, and it was he who collected the body of martyr Lee Yuk-sa, who had died in prison, and brought her belongings. However, even though she was a socialist activist and disliked the North Korean regime, she was worried that her children would be persecuted. “It’s a shame, but that’s how our world was.”

“What a piece of shit… … . “What on earth has this guy, Woo-nam, done?”

“… … .”

Is he a comrade in arms?

Among people of this era, the person who knows the history after liberation best is Kim Gyu-sik.

As a result, my relationship with Woo-nam became so bad that I could almost say that I hated him, and every so often, Woo-nam sought out this gentleman.

“Hum hum, anyway, that’s the case. There is no doubt that Martyr Yu Gwan-sun is someone we truly respect and whom descendants should not forget and revere for a long time. However, he was originally known in history as having impure intentions by impure people, and so even though we from modern times wanted to commemorate him in a special way, we had no way to do so due to fairness with others. So it’s natural that people of today don’t know much about it.”

“ha! I understand what you mean. And I’m sorry. “I was so excited that I just spoke.”

“No, sir. ruler! Then, a lot of the story got lost, so let’s get back to the main topic.”

“Sorry about this. I opened my mouth wrong… … .”

Go Seok-man scratched his head and apologized.

“no. This is a story that would have come up at least once anyway. Anyway, that’s it. In my opinion, no matter what anyone says, King Sejong and Admiral Yi Sun-sin cannot be left out.”

“ha ha ha! you’re right! “You two cannot be left out!”

“I agree!”

These two people are Munchkins themselves, going beyond the Joseon Dynasty.

It could never be left out.

“Then how about putting King Sejong on the 10,000 won bill and Admiral Yi Sun-sin on the 5,000 won bill?”

“great!”

“I agree!”

Up to this point, there could be no theory.

The problem is next.

“I hope the Neo-Confucian scholars will stop now. It is true that Toegye Yi Hwang and Yulgok Yi Yi are great men, but they are not suitable for the 20th and 21st centuries.”

“The same goes for Shin Saimdang. No, does it make sense to put on banknotes that she is a good mother and good wife, and that she is the mother of Yulgok Yi Yi? “If you ask me who my foreign friends are in modern times, I really have nothing to say.”

“you’re right! “So did I!”

“For that, I would rather go to IU… … .”

“Use it!”

“I’m sorry.”

Someone brought up IU and bowed her head after being met with a glare from Lee Kang-cheol.

At that time, Go Seok-man opened his mouth again.

“I wish we could include Woodang Lee Hoi-young, Lee Si-young, and their brothers.”

“hmm? Teacher Lee Hoi-young and her brothers?”

“Yes, aren’t they literally the embodiment of noblesse oblige? This is the first banknote issued by a country that once lost its sovereignty. I think it must be included and made widely known to future generations. “That way, there will be fewer traitors like pro-Japanese people again.”

“Hmm, that makes sense.”

“That’s a good idea.”

“I agree!”

In this way, even the 1,000 won bill was resolved.

Now all that’s left is 500 won bills.

This time, Kim Gyu-sik, who was cooling off, raised his hand.

“Can I recommend it too?”

“ah! Teacher Usa, of course.”

“I would like to include female independence activists as well. “That Yu Gwan-sun sister from earlier?”

“Hum hum, you’re almost as old as your daughter… … .”

“Well, anyway, that’s the case. That Yu Gwan-sun continues to haunt me. Even though its name is known by impure people, I think it is so great. So, how about including some female independence activists?”

“Oh oh! That’s a really good idea. “Is there anyone else you can recommend?”

“I’m embarrassed because she’s my wife’s niece, but I think Maria Kim would be okay, and I hope Nam Nam-hyeon, who was called the mother of the independence fighters, would be included as well. And I really want to include this person… … .”

“Who are you? “Please speak comfortably.”

“It’s a bit ambiguous because my husband is someone I know, but… … .”

“yes?”

“This is Park Cha-jeong. “She was Yaksan’s wife.”

“ah! Kim Won-bong’s wife?”

“That’s right. So I hesitated, but apart from Yaksan, he was a great fighter. He passed away a few years ago from the aftereffects of a gunshot wound suffered in battle with the Japanese army.”

“Mr. President, martyr Park Cha-jeong, separately from Kim Won-bong, was posthumously awarded the Independence Medal of the Order of Merit for National Foundation even in modern times.”

“Then it won’t be a problem. okay! “Please do so.”

“Thank you. Yaksan will really like it.”

In the end, it was decided to include female independence activists, including Yu Gwan-sun, on the 500 won note.