UNJournal  Kayla Lee |  The Heungsadan Support Center for Descendants of Independence Patriots (HSCDIP) announced the successful completion of its "2026 Overseas Independence Movement Historical Sites Tour." From January 26 to 30, high school and university students and other descendants of independence patriots visited Korean Provisional Government (KPG) and independence movement sites in China that date back to the 1910-1945 Japanese colonial period.

This program was planned ahead of the 107th anniversary of the March 1st Movement and the establishment of the KPG to trace the footsteps of independence activists and reflect on the meaning of the independence spirit. Participants visited the Provisional Government offices and independence movement-related historical sites located in Hangzhou, Shanghai, Nanjing, Chongqing, and other cities.

The tour group's first stop was the KPG building in Hangzhou, followed by a visit to the Jiaxing refuge where independence fighter and KPG President Kim Gu evaded capture by agents of Imperial Japan. They then traveled to Shanghai to tour the KPG office and the Yun Bong-gil Memorial Hall in Hongkou Park. The Hall is near the site where Yun—then a young independence fighter—successfully assassinated two Japanese officials and wounded several others after smuggling a bomb into a celebration honoring Emperor Hirohito's birthday. They also stopped at the Nanjing Massacre Memorial Hall, which documents Japanese atrocities. On the final day, they moved to Chongqing to visit the KPG building and the site of the Korean Liberation Army headquarters.

During student presentations on the final day of the tour, Hong Woo-jin reflected on Yun Bong-gil's patriotic act and later martyrdom, emphasizing that "memory is not automatically passed down but is chosen and preserved … It is we ourselves who decide which history to remember and inherit." He further stated, "We need a culture of continuous learning and sharing in our daily lives so that memory is not broken."

Student Won Hee-jung said, "By directly encountering our ancestors' true patriotism and noble sacrifice at these sites, I reflected deeply on the profound meaning of the independence movement," adding, "Going forward, I will act with greater responsibility as a descendant of independence patriots."

Na Jong-mok, HSCDIP Standing Representative, stated, "This tour was a meaningful journey that went beyond simple observation," adding, "Heungsadan will continue to promote education and experiential programs that connect history and the present together with descendants of independence patriots."

Heungsadan (興士團, Young Korean Academy) is a nationalist movement organization founded in 1913 by Dosan Ahn Chang-ho with the goal of national independence and prosperity. Before liberation, it dedicated itself to the independence movement, and after liberation, it has worked toward national revival, human resource development, and democratic advancement. Any citizen can join as a member through local branches nationwide or participate in Heungsadan activities through donations.

Since its establishment in 2005, the HSCDIP (KOR, CHI, JPN, ENG website) has carried out various social support projects, including scholarships, historical tours, elderly housing improvements, and leadership development. As of June 2025, it has distributed scholarships totaling 874.5 million won (USD 606K) to approximately 880 students—all descendants of independence patriots. Each year, more than 60 descendants are selected to receive scholarships of 1 million won for high school students and 2 million won for university students.