The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History will host a significant conference this Friday, focusing on the contributions of activist artists to Korea's struggle for independence. The event, which precedes Liberation Day next week, will delve into how Korean artists and their works played a pivotal role in the country’s efforts to achieve independence from Japanese colonial rule.

The conference will feature presentations from seven scholars across various disciplines who will share their research on this crucial period. The event will begin with a keynote address by Kim Jeong-in, a historian at Chuncheon National University of Education. His speech will provide an overview of the cultural milestones achieved during the independence movement.

Sim Ok-joo, president of a local think tank dedicated to women independence activists, will review the morale-boosting songs composed by Yoon Hee-soon. Yoon, known as the first female independence fighter who led a women's militia, composed music intended to inspire and rally the independence movement.

Additionally, the conference will reintroduce the works of novelist and author Sim Hun, focusing on their emotional impact on Koreans living through the 1920s. The session will also include a presentation by a researcher from the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, who will discuss new findings on Kim Tong-hwan, renowned for his epic poem "Night on the Border."

Other discussions will highlight the role of women in the independence movement, beginning with student activists and extending to the contributions of "picture brides." These were Korean women who married first-generation Korean immigrants in Hawaii during the 1910s through photo exchanges arranged for matchmaking purposes.

The conference will conclude with performances of songs written by activist artists, offering attendees a cultural and historical reflection on the artistic contributions to Korea’s independence movement.

Sayart / Rachel Bae, sungmin.b.213@gmail.com