Memorial Ceremony and Academic Conference to Mark 94th Anniversary of Uidang Lee Hoe-young's Martyrdom to Be Held on Nov. 17

Shinheung Military Academy and Anarchism Research to Be Examined at Seoul Museum of History

Lee Hoe-young Memorial Hall announced on November 11 that it will hold a memorial ceremony and academic conference on November 17 at Yajugae Hall in the Seoul Museum of History to mark the 94th anniversary of the death of Uidang Lee Hoe-young (1867–1932), who died for Korea's independence.

Photo by Lee Hoe-young Memorial Hall

The event consists of a memorial ceremony titled "The Ninety-Fourth Orchid Leaf" and an academic conference titled "The State and Challenges of Research on Uidang Lee Hoe-young." It was organized to honor his spirit of independence activism while reviewing existing research, with a focus on the founding of the Shinheung Military Academy and his anarchist activities, and to explore future research directions.

Immediately after Korea lost its national sovereignty in 1910, Lee Hoe-young and his family, including his six brothers, sold all their property and went into exile in Seogando. He later led the founding of Gyeonghaksa and the Shinheung Military Academy, and continued the struggle against Japanese colonial rule alongside Korean anarchists in China in Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, and elsewhere. He was arrested by the Japanese in November 1932 and died for Korea's independence on November 17 of that year at Lushun Prison in Dalian, China.

The memorial ceremony will include a reading of a memorial address for the 94th anniversary by Lee Jonggeol, chairman of the Uidang Lee Hoe-young Memorial Foundation; a screening of a video introducing Lee's life; and memorial remarks by Lee Heejeong, head of the Seoul Northern Regional Office of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. Remarks by Lee Jongchan, president of the Korean Liberation Association and a descendant of Lee Hoe-young, are also planned.

An academic conference will also be held. The first presenter, Park Hwan, chairman of the Korea Academic and Cultural Foundation, will examine Lee Hoe-young's role in founding and operating the Shinheung Military Academy. Pointing out that previous research has focused relatively heavily on Lee's anarchist activities, Park will draw on a range of historical sources, including the Shinhan Minbo and documents from China and Japan, to examine the establishment of an independence movement base in Seogando and the procurement of funds for exile.

In particular, the conference will offer a multifaceted look at the six brothers' cooperation and the structure of funding for the independence movement by examining records of the Lee family's property sales, Lee Seokyeong's financial support, Lee Cheolyeong's management of the Shinheung Military Academy, and Lee Hoyoung's finance and accounting work.

The second presenter, Kim Myeongseop, a research professor at Dankook University's Institute for Oriental Studies, will discuss Lee Hoe-young's anarchist activities and international solidarity. He will point out the limitations of previous research centered on memoirs and raise the need to cross-check official documents and newspapers with materials from Japan and China. He will also examine the struggle against Japanese colonial rule that Lee waged alongside Shin Chaeho, Ryu Jamyeong, Lee Eulgyu, Lee Jeonggyu, and Baek Jeonggi, as well as international solidarity with anarchists in China and Japan.

Cho Kwang, the 14th president of the National Institute of Korean History, will moderate the general discussion. Designated discussants will include Hwang Minho, professor emeritus at Soongsil University; Han Gyumu, professor at Gwangju University; Cho Sehyun, professor at Pukyong National University; and Kim Hodong, a director of the Korean Liberation Association.

Lee Jonggeol, chairman of the foundation, said, "By discovering new materials and taking another look at existing records, we can gain a deeper understanding of his life and independence movement." He added, "I hope this academic conference will provide an opportunity to review research achievements and jointly explore future research directions and challenges."

Meanwhile, Lee Hoe-young Memorial Hall will hold a memorial week from November 17 to 22. The hall will set up a space for laying flowers and show a video of the memorial ceremony. It will also provide memorial activity sheets for children and teenagers. Applications to attend the academic conference can be submitted through the Lee Hoe-young Memorial Hall website.

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