Meeting the Faces of Independence Once Again at Imcheonggak

Portraits and Photographs of North Gyeongsang Independence Activists Gathered in One Place
K-Museum Traveling Exhibition Runs Until November 15

The Gyeongsangbuk-do Patriots and Veterans Foundation announced that the 2026 K-Museum Regional Traveling Exhibition, titled “The Faces of Independence Activists Through Portraits,” will be held at the Imcheonggak Historical and Cultural Sharing Center in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, until November 15.

This exhibition, organized as part of a public contest by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, is the second in the series, following the first traveling exhibition that was held from August 14 to September 23 at the Kim Chang-sook Memorial Hall in Simsan, Seocho-gu, Seoul.

Meeting the Face of Independence Again at Imcheonggak [Photo by Andong City]

The exhibition sheds light on the history of the independence movement through portraits, photographs, and related materials of independence activists who were either from North Gyeongsang Province or were primarily active in the region, focusing on the stories of individuals.

Imcheonggak, the exhibition venue, is a representative historical site in the province’s history of independence activism; it is also the birthplace of Lee Sang-ryong, who served as the first Prime Minister of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea.

The exhibition is structured in several sections: the prologue “Faces in the Dark,” Part 1 “Faces Left on the Brush,” Part 2 “Faces Left on Film,” the epilogue “Restored Faces in the Light,” and an interactive space called “Memory Studio.”

The prologue introduces the historical context of the independence movement carried out by North Gyeongsang activists during the Japanese occupation, not only in Korea but also in Manchuria and China.

Part 1 features portraits and related materials of independence activists such as Lee Sang-ryong, Shin Dol-seok, Kim Dong-sam, Kim Chang-sook, and Lee Yuk-sa. Through records of each individual, visitors can explore their paths and activities in the independence movement.

Part 2 highlights photographs and materials of female independence activists, including Nam Ja-hyeon, Heo Eun, Kaneko Fumiko, Jeon Wol-sun, and Han Tae-eun, focusing on their roles and activities as documented in photographs.

In the epilogue, video content created using artificial intelligence (AI) technology reenacts the faces of independence activists from portraits and photos, applying effects such as blinking, shifting gaze, and changes in expression to animate these historical figures on screen.

The “Memory Studio,” where visitors can directly participate, is also open to the public.

Events include a “Independence Photo Studio,” where participants can dress in attire and use props related to the independence movement to take photos, as well as hands-on activities such as coloring portraits of activists and making keychains using portrait images.

Meeting the Face of Independence Again at Imcheonggak
[Photo by Byunggun Kwon]

Han Hee-won, President of the Gyeongsangbuk-do Patriots and Veterans Foundation, said, “It is meaningful to encounter the faces of North Gyeongsang independence activists once again in the historic space of Imcheonggak. I hope this exhibition serves as an opportunity to widely introduce the lives and spirit of the activists and the value of North Gyeongsang’s independence history to citizens and visitors alike.”

This exhibition opened on October 1 and will continue at the Imcheonggak Historical and Cultural Sharing Center in Andong until November 15.

While the history of the independence movement is a succession of huge events, it was ultimately driven by the choices and sacrifices of individuals. This exhibition is noteworthy in that it places the “faces” of independence activists at the forefront, going beyond the traditional record-based focus on names and achievements.

In particular, encountering portraits and photographs of independence activists including Lee Sang-ryong in Imcheonggak—where their traces remain—means that the exhibition space itself functions as a historical record. By connecting figures of the past with today’s visitors, the exhibition is expected to serve as a vital site for exploring how the memory of the independence movement can be passed on to future generations.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.