Seoul: Korea's struggle for independence from Japanese colonial rule was a "lofty cry" for universal values, such as peace and humanitarianism, rather than merely a nationalist movement, according to a South Korean historian. Park Hwan, who has dedicated over four decades to researching Korea's independence movement during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule, emphasized the significance of the movement is often perceived too narrowly through a domestic lens.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Park highlighted the international support that Korea's independence movement received from countries like China, Russia, the United States, Mexico, and even the Cuban government during his recent tour of historic sites in Manchuria, now northeastern China. "Korea's independence movement was not a movement solely for Koreans. It was a struggle that pursued universal human values, including justice and humanitarianism," Park stated.
Park advised against viewing Korea's independence movement through a chauvinistic lens, as it could obscure the broader significance of the movement. He emphasized that the independence fighters issued a lofty call to the world in pursuit of peace and universal human values, noting that many of them joined forces with foreign advocates in China and Japan who opposed imperial Japan.
Ahn Jung-geun, a revered independence fighter, was cited by Park as a prime example of an activist whose vision extended beyond Korea. Ahn, who assassinated a senior Japanese colonial official in China 117 years ago, expressed his desire for peace in East Asia shortly before his execution. "When asked about his final wish shortly before his execution on March 26, 1910, Ahn said he wanted to lead three cheers of 'long live peace in the East,'" Park remarked.
Before his execution by the Imperial Japanese Army at China's Lushun Prison, Ahn had been writing the "Theory of Peace in the East," advocating for peaceful coexistence among Korea, China, and Japan to counter Western imperialism, according to Park. Unfortunately, Ahn died before completing the book.
Park connected the ideals and values pursued by Korea's independence fighters to contemporary global conflicts, such as the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, which he perceives as an early stage of a third world war. He suggested that these ideals remain relevant today and can help chart a course for the future. "Studying the ideals and history of independence activists offers valuable lessons for understanding the direction Korea and the world should take," he said.
When asked about the preservation of overseas historic sites related to Korea's independence movement, Park advocated for a broader perspective grounded in cooperation with China, recalling their past collaboration against imperial Japan. "Korea and China once helped each other in the spirit of friendship and mutual support during the independence movement," Park noted, emphasizing the importance of restoring trust and further developing bilateral ties to jointly preserve these historic sites.
Park, a historian from a family with four generations in the profession, expressed concern about the declining interest in history as an academic field. He noted that demand for history has waned, particularly in the era of artificial intelligence. Despite this trend, Park urged the government to recognize the value of history in national development and to support future historians by creating more career opportunities and preserving history departments at universities.
"South Korea seems to be overly focused on keeping pace with the changing times while failing to take a broader, future-oriented view from a historical perspective," Park said. He lamented that the government is fostering an environment where history students feel that "you will starve if you study history."