Singer Park Seo Jin reflected on the meaning of National Liberation Day of Korea by visiting historical sites in person, walking and running through them, and then expressing his gratitude through a small act of giving.
In the August 15 episode of KBS2’s Mr. House Husband Season 2, Park Seo Jin and his younger sister Park Hyo-jung were shown running 8.15 km through downtown Seoul along the path once taken by independence activists.
Historical storyteller Sun Kim joined them as they ran a route that began at Tapgol Park and passed through Seodaemun Prison before ending at the Kim Koo Museum & Library.
The starting point was Tapgol Park, the historic site of the March 1 Independence Movement. Park Seo Jin said, “I have recently started painting folk paintings, and as ‘Folk Painting Park,’ I have become interested in history. Today, I plan to run hard and learn more about history as well.” After hearing about the history of the independence movement on site, he said places he usually passed by now felt different once he understood their meaning.
After running about 3.5 km, they visited Seodaemun Prison. There, they examined records of imprisoned independence activists, as well as traces of the Japanese colonial era, including prison cells and shackles. They also learned about activists who were imprisoned at a young age, along with stories about Kang Ugyu and Yu Gwan-sun.
Sun Kim emphasized, “Because these people existed, we are able to enjoy this freedom and prosperity.” He added, “There are many independence activists whose names we remember, but we must also never forget the countless unnamed activists who were there as well.”
The final stop on the 8.15 km route was the Kim Koo Museum & Library, which marks the 150th anniversary of Kim Gu’s birth this year. The Park siblings looked back on the process of the independence movement and the lives that the activists’ families had to endure through Baekbeom Ilji and Kim Gu’s life story.
The history experience did not end with the run. Park Seo Jin decided to turn his gratitude into action and visited a restaurant run by a descendant of a Person of Distinguished Service to the State. Inspired by the numbers 8 and 15, which symbolize National Liberation Day of Korea, he set a target of 815,000 won and invited middle school ssireum team students to share a meal.
After about two hours of dining, the total exceeded the target. Park Seo Jin ultimately paid 823,000 won.
Park Seo Jin said, “I was glad to be able to treat my athletic friends, and above all, I was happy that this began on National Liberation Day of Korea at a restaurant run by a descendant of a Person of Distinguished Service to the State. Remembering history is important, but when I put my gratitude into action, I once again realized that even a small gesture can be meaningful enough.”
Online users responded by saying things like, “It is heartwarming that he even showed support by flooding the restaurant run by a descendant of a Person of Distinguished Service to the State with orders,” “It was a broadcast that truly reflected the meaning of National Liberation Day of Korea,” and “You could feel Park Seo Jin’s sincerity.”
This article has been translated by GripLabs Mingo AI.
