South Korea's Cultural Heritage Administration confirmed on August 6 that it has received a hand-written ink document by patriot An Jung-geun from Japan. The artifact, written in the days before his execution, holds special historical significance for Korea's independence movement.
The repatriation comes as the country prepares to mark the anniversary of its liberation from Japanese colonial rule (1910–1945), an event of deep national importance. The document is believed to contain An Jung-geun's own words, penned while he was held in a Japanese prison ahead of his execution in 1910.
An Jung-geun is an icon of Korea's independence struggle, best known for assassinating Ito Hirobumi, the former Japanese Resident-General of Korea, at Harbin Station in 1909. Koreans regard the act as a defining expression of patriotism against imperial Japanese aggression.
Korean authorities have praised the relic and will preserve and study it within the national heritage system. The successful return followed coordination and negotiations among the parties involved, contributing to the preservation of key historical values for the nation.
