LETTER FROM THE EDITOR - VOL. 3
Prototype of the first national flag, also known as “Park Young-Hyo's national flag of Korea.” The flag is the first and oldest Korean national flag created in 1882, which was officially made by the Foreign Office of the Joseon Dynasty. The flag was found in the national Archives of the Great Britain.
KCCNYC Monthly - Vol. 3
By Eun Byoul Oh
August is always an exciting month for Korea—and we also had the Olympics this year.
Korea was liberated from Japan on August 15, 1945, after 35 years of brutal occupation. I remember one year someone asked me, “Eun, you are young, but why do you hold strong opinions on Japanese colonialism?” I was born in the 90s — I certainly grew up with Japanese Mangas and Nintendos.
I dwelled on the question for a bit and came down to one conclusion: “Obviously, because I am Korean.” As the team was preparing contents for the month, I was reminded that there were people who are alive that experienced that era of colonialism. As we celebrate Korean culture, we thought it was appropriate for us to honor the Liberation of Korea and share the joy with our readers.
We take a moment to honor and commemorate the independence leaders who fought for the sovereignty of Korea. The sacrifices that they have made to restlessly fight for the preservation of Korean language and culture bloomed into what we know as K-culture that is loved globally.
Korea’s liberation was a result of a long struggle that the Korean leaders in Korea and abroad fought for. As the Constitution of Korea recognizes, the Provisional Government of Korea remains to be the root of our modern government. Furthermore, Koreans in Russia (former USSR countries) and the United States have carried out missions and funded independence movements. Liberation groups were active in China, Russia, Hawaii, San Francisco, Los Angeles and elsewhere, and were started by liberation activists who had to flee Korea. The descendants of many of these activists never made it back to Korea and continue to be an active part of the Korean diaspora. We shall not forget the families and children of the independence leaders, as we discuss the Korean diaspora.
Lastly, KCCNYC has been promoting awareness on the issue of Comfort Women (Survivors of Sexual Slavery during WWII), and forced laborers. We resonate with and share the grief and sorrow of all the survivors and victims.
In this newsletter, we are also elated to share how Korea has done in the Paris Olympics 2024. Despite the smallest number of athletes this Olympics since the 1976 Montreal Olympics, the athletes brought 32 medals. Many of the athletes have waved the Korean flag, the symbol of independent Korea.
Long Live Independent Korea, 대한 독립 만세!
Eun Byoul Oh
