On August 23, 2026, at 11 a.m., Jan van Zanen, the mayor of The Hague, stood at the grave of independence activist Lee Jun in Suyu-ri, Gangbuk-gu, Seoul. This was his first official schedule during his visit to South Korea. Kang Yoon-jin, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, welcomed him and joined in the tribute. Over a century after a diplomatic envoy from the Korean Empire risked his life to reclaim the nation's sovereignty, the mayor of that same city visited the resting place of the envoy in Seoul to pay his respects. This tribute was held to honor the 120th anniversary of Lee Jun's sacrifice and to reflect on the historical ties and values of peace between Korea and the Netherlands.
The ceremony was attended by Jo Seung-hyun, chairman of the Ilseong Lee Jun Memorial Association, Jeon Jin-pyo, former head of the Southern Regional Forest Service and a recipient of the National Foundation Medal for his contributions to the April 19 Revolution, and poet Joo Kwang-il, who has served as the head of the Seoul High Prosecutors' Office and the National Ombudsman Commission. The sight of these elders, who have lived through the twists and turns of modern Korean history, bowing before the fallen heroes who sacrificed themselves for national sovereignty 119 years ago, was a powerful testament to the legacy of dedication that transcends generations. History is not merely a record of the deceased; it is also about how the living remember and carry on the intentions of those who came before them.
Even long-time residents of Seoul may know of Lee Jun's statue in Changchungdan Park, but few have visited his grave in Suyu-ri. This raises the question of how much young people know about him. How familiar are foreign visitors to Seoul with this site? This inquiry leads to another concern: beyond preserving the history of the independence movement and democracy, how effectively is this history being communicated to future generations and the world?
We may not fully grasp how many people have sacrificed their names, wealth, youth, and lives for the Republic of Korea. The path from the late Joseon Dynasty's movement for national sovereignty through the Japanese occupation to the liberation in 1945 included not only heroes whose names are prominently recorded in history books but also countless lesser-known heroes who did not even have their names preserved. Their blood, tears, sacrifices, and dedication have collectively formed the great river that is the Republic of Korea.
We remember Kim Gu, Ahn Jung-geun, and Yun Bong-gil. Kim Gu led the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea on the Chinese mainland, Ahn Jung-geun assassinated Ito Hirobumi in Harbin, and Yun Bong-gil shocked the world with his act at Hongkou Park in Shanghai. These figures are monumental stars in the national history that must be eternally remembered. However, if we only view the map of the independence movement as it unfolded on the Chinese mainland, we miss a significant part of the picture. There was another vast path in the independence movement: the road leading to the world, appealing for the nation's independence through diplomacy and international public opinion.
In 1907, the three envoys, Lee Jun, Lee Wi-jong, and Lee Sang-seol, walked this path to The Hague. At that time, the Korean Empire was weak. It was difficult to confront Japan militarily, and it had lost its diplomatic rights. Nevertheless, it did not relinquish its sovereignty. Emperor Gojong sent the three men as envoys to the Second International Peace Conference in The Hague to inform the world that the Eulsa Treaty had been forcibly signed against the will of the emperor and the people, and to appeal for the sovereignty and independence of the Korean Empire in the international community.
The three envoys were unable to achieve their goal of attending the main conference due to Japanese interference and the harsh realities of international politics. However, their actions cannot be solely defined as a failure. They engaged with international media, raising awareness of Korea's plight and demonstrating to the world that even a small nation like the Korean Empire had the will and diplomatic voice to defend its sovereignty.
In today's terms, they were pioneers of Korea's global independence diplomacy. They wielded documents instead of guns, and engaged with international law and public opinion instead of bombs. Their battlefield was not the Korean Peninsula, Manchuria, or the Chinese mainland, but the international diplomatic stage in Europe. While the nation's power was weak, its spirit was not. They proclaimed to the world that the Korean Empire was alive and that its sovereignty could not be forcibly taken away. At the center of this was Lee Jun.
Lee Jun was originally a lawyer. He entered the first class of the Judicial Training Institute in 1895 and became a prosecutor at the Hanseong District Court the following year. He was a pioneering legal professional during the early days of the modern judicial system. However, as the nation faltered, he did not remain confined to the courtroom. He engaged in education, enlightenment, and the movement for national sovereignty, ultimately becoming an envoy to The Hague.
On July 14, 1907, he passed away in The Hague. His remains could not return to his homeland immediately. There was no country to return to. It was not until 56 years later, in 1963, that Lee Jun's remains were repatriated. On October 4 of that year, a ceremony was held to return his remains, and he was finally laid to rest in Suyu-ri, Seoul. It took 56 years for a human body to return to its homeland. This long span of 56 years encapsulates the painful modern history of our nation, marked by loss of sovereignty, colonial rule, liberation, and division, leading to war.
Thus, the grave of Lee Jun in Suyu-ri is not just a simple tomb. It is a site where modern Korean history intersects with world history. It is where Seoul meets The Hague, where 1907 meets 2026, and where the Korean Empire, which was losing its territory, meets today's Republic of Korea, a global economic and cultural power. This is why Lee Jun's grave is designated as a national registered cultural heritage and is recognized for its significant historical and educational value.
The question remains: how well are we utilizing this precious historical asset? This site can develop into a living history classroom for South Korean youth and a venue for global learning. History should not be taught solely through textbooks. Young people should come here to meet Lee Jun, learn about Lee Sang-seol and Lee Wi-jong, and discuss what the Eulsa Treaty was and why the three men had to travel to The Hague on the other side of the world.
The story of Lee Jun is not just material for domestic patriotic education. It serves as an excellent resource for global citizenship education, studying universal values such as international law, diplomacy, national sovereignty, peace, and human freedom and dignity. Moreover, in The Hague, there is a memorial hall dedicated to Lee Jun located in the building where he passed away. If we connect Suyu-ri and The Hague into a single historical education network, it would enable South Korean youth to learn about The Hague while Dutch youth learn about the history of the Korean Empire, creating a true global history education experience.
Suyu-ri also holds another chapter of modern Korean history: the April 19 Revolution. Near the site where students and citizens rose against dictatorship in 1960, Lee Jun rests, having cried out to the world for sovereignty in 1907. It is essential to view these two histories as part of a larger narrative. If what Lee Jun cried out in 1907 was sovereignty, what the April 19 Revolution cried out in 1960 was democracy. Though the times were different, the roots are the same. The questions remain: Who is the owner of the nation? For whom does power exist? Who must protect human freedom and dignity?
Therefore, it is worth considering connecting the April 19 Democratic Cemetery, Lee Jun's grave, and the historical heritage related to independence and democracy in Suyu-ri into a 'Republic of Korea Freedom, Independence, and Democracy History Belt.' Adding Bukhansan, a representative natural heritage of Seoul, could create a new historical and cultural tourism axis where humanity, culture, and nature intersect. Youth could walk through this area, studying independence and democracy, while foreigners could understand how the Republic of Korea has grown into a free democratic nation after losing its sovereignty, enduring colonial rule, war, and dictatorship.
On July 14, 2027, we will mark the 120th anniversary of Lee Jun's sacrifice. It would be a waste to commemorate this milestone with just a single memorial service. We should consider holding an international academic conference jointly hosted by Seoul and The Hague, creating a 'Lee Jun Global Peace Camp' for Korean and Dutch youth, and digitally mapping the route taken by the Hague envoys using AI content. We must transform commemoration into education, education into culture, and culture into exchanges with the world. This is the 21st-century way for the Republic of Korea to honor its heroes.
However, the difficult circumstances of the Ilseong Lee Jun Memorial Association, as revealed at the tribute site, weigh heavily on the heart. If the efforts to carry on the legacy of those who sacrificed everything for the nation rely too heavily on the personal finances and dedication of specific individuals, it is time for the state and society to properly address this reality. Honoring independence activists is not about venerating the past; it is about recognizing where today's Republic of Korea came from and teaching where the next Republic of Korea should go.
The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, the Seoul Metropolitan Government, and Gangbuk-gu must take a more proactive role. The Ministry of Education and local education offices should find ways to utilize this site for youth history education and global citizenship education. The political sphere must also take an interest. There can be no partisan divide in honoring veterans, and there should be no division between progressives and conservatives in the independence movement. Remembering the fallen heroes must be treated as a national task that transcends political interests.
In particular, the South Korean business community needs to participate more actively. The foundation upon which our companies operate globally and where South Korean citizens can confidently carry their passports anywhere in the world is built on the sacrifices made by previous generations to protect and reclaim the nation and its sovereignty. Now, South Korean companies should take a deeper interest in preserving the nation's history, culture, and spiritual heritage beyond mere economic success. Supporting youth global education initiatives related to Lee Jun, facilitating exchanges between youth in Seoul and The Hague, and contributing to the establishment of multilingual digital memorials and historical content would not just be a donation; it would be an investment in the spiritual capital of the Republic of Korea and the next generation.
On August 23, 2026, a symbolic scene unfolded in Suyu-ri. The mayor of The Hague, the city Lee Jun risked his life to reach 119 years ago, came to Seoul and bowed before Lee Jun's grave. It seemed as if The Hague was once again grasping the hand that the Korean Empire had extended to it in 1907.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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