The anniversaries representing our country's identity and independence are March 1 and August 15. It is also a precious day to honor the patriotic martyrs and patriots who fought for the country's rescue and independence during the Japanese invasion and occupation period and share the joy of independence. 

According to Korea's independence fighters, a total of 2.44 million people are estimated, including about 300,000 volunteers, 2.02 million for the March 1 Independence Movement, 100,000 for the Independence Army and the Liberation Army, and 20,000 for anti-Japanese activities at home and abroad. However, as of August 1, 2024, 18,018 people, or 0.7% of them, were selected and rewarded as independence merit. 

By the way, how do we proceed with this discovery of independence fighters? Of course, it will be done by the government (Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs) or local organizations, but among the 458 universities and 900 graduate schools nationwide, there is the only place that finds independence fighters and applies for rewards. 

This is Incheon National University's Independent Movement History Institute! Incheon National University's Independence Movement History Institute is the only research institute in Korea to find hidden independence fighters to honor their noble patriotic ⦁ and love spirit and to apply for rewards to the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs. 

Since 2019, Dr. Lee Tae-ryong and researchers have shown unrivaled achievements and efforts in discovering independence fighters

[Dr. Lee Tae-ryong, Director of the Institute for the History of Independent Movement at Incheon National University]

Incheon National University's Independent Movement History Institute has found 5,035 independence fighters 12 times from 2019 to 2024 and applied for rewards. If you look at the independence fighters that we have discovered so far, starting in 2019, 215 (1st), 550 (2nd) in May 2019, 737 (3rd) in April 2020, 558 (4th) in August 2020, 316 (5th) in February 2021, 452 (6th) in August 2021, 422 (7th) in February 2022, 450 (8th) in August 2023, 325 (9th) in August 2023, 352 (10th) in August 2024, 308 (11th) in February 2024, and 350 (12th) in August 2024 were discovered and applied to the government.