Anti-Japanese Hero Photos Restored by Taiwanese Collector
As we celebrate the 80th anniversary of liberation, the images of anti-Japanese independence activists, which are indispensable in our history, are being reexamined in new ways.
On the 17th, KBS spotlighted a Taiwanese collector who has brought to life the black-and-white images of independence activists by adding color, reviving a vivid scene from history.
The special photo book restored by collector Hsu Chongmao presents astonishing historical moments with every page turn. The photographs, restored in color rather than black and white, make the history of the past feel close and relevant to "today."
The image of An Jung-geun, who was captured after the Harbin Incident, is particularly striking, as he stares defiantly at the camera despite being bound by thick iron chains around his waist.
Additionally, the book meticulously captures scenes of his family dining together in his birthplace in Haeju, Hwanghae Province, before the incident.
Hsu explained, "At that time, Chinese and Koreans united to fight against Japanese invasion, which is why I started collecting items related to Korea."
"Perhaps I was Korean in my past life."
Among the photographs Hsu discovered is a scene from 1904 showing anti-Japanese activists Kim Seong-san, Lee Chun-geun, and Ahn Sun-seo being escorted to the execution ground by Japanese soldiers.
Images of them bound to a wooden cross with their eyes covered, and the series of photos capturing the moment the Japanese soldiers awaited the command to fire were revealed to the world for the first time by Hsu.
Furthermore, photographs of Korean female independence activists arrested in China have also been unearthed through Hsu's efforts.
Regarding his passion for historical collection, he stated, "Such work requires sacrifice. Therefore, the only answer I can find is that I was perhaps Korean in my past life."
Hsu has an experience of being shot in the neck while covering the Tiananmen Square incident in China.
Following this incident, he decided to dedicate the remainder of his life to preserving and promoting historical facts.
As a result of traveling around the world to collect photographs, he has amassed over 6,000 images related to Korean history.
He emphasized the importance of historical preservation, stating, "We must learn lessons from wrongdoings and ensure that such mistakes do not happen again. This is the way to achieve long-term peace and eternal peace."
YouTube 'KBS News'
Image Source: YouTube 'KBS News', Participants viewing the exhibition at the opening ceremony of the special exhibition 'Ahn Jung-geun 書' commemorating the 115th anniversary of the Harbin Incident, held at the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on October 23 of last year. / News1
