It was a morethan 6,000km march from Chongqing to Harbin, sites we visitedwere Chongqing, Shanghai, Yanji, Baekdu Mountain,Harbin and more. Seeing anti-Japanese historical sites tobecome aware of the significance of our independence and toreport to other students, many of whom have been indifferent,was the purpose of our trip.
The Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea inOsayahyang located in Chongqing was well preserved, reconstructedby funds from the Independence Hall of Korea.Compared to Shanghai Provisional Government, few peoplewere visiting there.
In order to save and preserve our historicalsites in China, our attention and support are essential.Most places we visited were well-preserved. Every placewe visited taught us a lesson. Some places could be hard torecognize as anti-Japanese historical sites.
Hongqau Parkwhere Yun Bong-gil the Martyr assassinated several Japanesegenerals was quite just like any other parks, but for a monumentand a small museum telling what was happened there.Yun Bong-gil died at 23 sacrificing himself for the independenceof Korea.There were Chinese patrols guarding us in the site of acastle of Palhae and Baekdu Mountain because of recent territorialand historical conflict between Korea and China.
Wecould not even take out Taegukgi, the Korean National Flag. Itwas interesting to find out Palhae was called Bohai andBaekdu Mountain as Jangbaek Mountain in China.A Military Unit 731 was the most unforgettable place.
Itwas a place where Japan had performed several inhumane scienceexperiments on humans. They called humans in experimentsa Maruta, meaning a log. Not only Koreans, butChinese, Russians and Mongolians were used in the livingbodytest done by Japanese. They had done over fifty experimentson human bodies such as blowing air to people; spreadingyellow rats to infect and more.
What really bothered mewas the fact that all those Japanese scientists and directors ofMilitary Unit 731 were acquitted and discharged by theSupreme Court of Japan after WW and currently hold prestigiouspositions. Only a few people admitted their faults andwhat really happened there.
Most of them are still concealed.This experience has naturally made me think about ourindependence and freedom. Without the resistance of ourancestors, we could not have the freedom that we enjoy today.
I asked myself if I could fight for the independence of mycountry in an unbelievably poor and insufficient situation.Patriots who fought for independence of Korea did not considertheir own benefits. Those lessons are something our generationshould learn about.
The UOS Times
webmaster@uos.ac.kr