The Korea Times

State commendations to be awarded to 13 independence fighters on 100th anniv. of June 10 movement

Korea will confer decorations to 13 people who participated in an independence movement held in 1926 against Japanese colonial rule in commemoration of its 100th anniversary, the veterans ministry said Monday. The independence fighters will be awarded state medals and presidential citations posthumously to mark the 100th anniversary of the June 10 independence movement, according to the ministry. The June 10 movement refers to a demonstration led by students in Seoul against Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea to coincide with the state funeral of Sunjong, the last king of the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910). It is considered one of the most prominent independence movements, along with those held March 1, 1919, and Nov. 3, 1929. Two people will be awarded the Patriotic Medal of the Order of Merit for the National Foundation, another two the National Foundation Medal, and nine others will receive the presidential citation. Among them is Lee Byeong-rip, who was arrested while taking part in the independence movement as a Yonhi college student and sentenced to a year in prison. The government'