Kim Hye-sun (67), a master of hanbok, has accomplished a meaningful project that recreates the last appearances of independence activists through traditional Korean clothing.
As a part of the ‘First Wearing Liberation Clothes’ campaign, Master Kim, along with the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, restored black-and-white photos of 87 independence activists into color photos wearing hanbok. They were previously remembered as martyrs wearing prison uniforms, but through this project, they were reborn as heroes.
Master Kim Hye-sun participated on this project with the hope that the last image of independence activists can be of them wearing hanbok, a conventional Korean attire befitting their courage and dedication, relatively than shabby prison uniforms.
The place to begin for this work was the memory of shedding tears upon seeing the prison uniform with Ahn Jung-geun’s prison number written on it on the Lushun Prison Museum eight years ago.
After 4 months of meticulous work, Master Kim created pants, a jacket, a vest, a durumagi, and a dopo for male independence activists, and skirts, a jacket, a baeja, and a durumagi for female independence activists.
Each hanbok had a special meaning. Ahn Jung-geun’s purple hanbok symbolized his integrity that blossomed in difficult circumstances, and Yu Gwan-sun’s pine-colored jacket symbolized her spirit of sacrifice for the country.
Master Kim Hye-sun said, “The ability of garments is powerful,” and hoped that by dressing independence activists in hanbok, they’d be remembered as national heroes, not only prisoners.
She also revealed her plans to gift hanbok not only to independence activists but in addition to veterans of the Korean War and their descendants, expressing her gratitude, saying, “We’re where we’re today due to their dedication.”
Master Kim plans to proceed to gift hanbok to overseas national heroes to point out his appreciation for his or her dedication to peace and freedom.
This project just isn’t an easy restoration project; it’s the results of Master Kim Hye-sun’s deep efforts to recall the spirit and history of independence activists and commemorate their sacrifices.
Reporter Yang Jun-seok kailas21@aitimes.com
