South Korea's Gift for Indonesia's 81st Independence Day
South Korea is highlighting the journeys of South Korea and the Republic of Indonesia in fighting for freedom and independence through a photo exhibition titled “My Wish, Our Wish: Road to Freedom” held at the ANTARA Heritage Center, Jakarta.
South Korea’s Deputy Ambassador to Indonesia, Chung Hae-Kwan, said the exhibition, running from 12 to 31 August, aims to recall the struggles of figures who dedicated their lives to independence.
“Korea and Indonesia have different histories and cultures, but both countries share a long journey in fighting for noble values, namely freedom and independence,” Chung Hae-Kwan said in his remarks at the exhibition opening at the ANTARA Heritage Center on Wednesday (12/8).
South Korea celebrates its independence on 15 August, just two days before Indonesia’s independence day on 17 August. Chung said that through this exhibition, visitors can become more familiar with Kim Koo, a South Korean independence fighter who devoted his life to Korea’s independence and dreamed of a Korea that is not only strong but also able to contribute to world peace and shared prosperity through a flourishing culture.
“In today’s exhibition, we will get to know more closely the life of Kim Koo and his belief in independence through photos and videos about him, the book Baek Beom Ilji that he wrote, and the Taegukgi (South Korea’s national flag) bearing his original signature,” he said.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s journey towards independence is also presented through various materials on the reading of the Proclamation of Independence by Indonesia’s first president Soekarno, handwritten manuscripts by poet and independence fighter Chairil Anwar, and materials on Adam Malik, one of ANTARA’s founders who played a role in preparing news of Indonesia’s Proclamation of Independence.
According to Chung, remembering history does not simply mean looking back at the past, but is also a process of reaffirming the values that must be upheld while serving as a foundation for building a better future.
He expressed hope that the exhibition could become a momentum for the people of Indonesia and Korea to better understand each other’s history and culture and to strengthen the friendship between the two countries.
“May my wish, My Wish, become our wish, Our Wish, and may our wish become a journey towards a better future,” he said.
The “My Wish, Our Wish: Road to Freedom” exhibition is organised by the ANTARA Educational Institutions Department in cooperation with the Korean Cultural Center Indonesia (KCCI) to commemorate UNESCO’s official designation of 2026 as the “150th Anniversary of the Birth of Kim Koo” and the 81st Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia.