On Aug. 15, 1945, Korea achieved independence after 35 years of Japanese colonial rule. Many fought for the country’s liberation from the Japanese Empire, with many losing their lives.
August seems to be a perfect time to reflect on the stories of those who endured tremendous hardships and their legacies in Korean music today. "Women’s March" sung by Ahn Ye-eun In 1919, after the nationwide March 1st Independence Movement, seven female independence activists — Yu Gwan-sun, Sim Myung-chul, Eo Yun-hee, Kwon Ae-ra, Shin Gwan-bin, Lim Myung-ae and Kim Hyang-hwa— were imprisoned in Cell No. 8 of Seodaemun Prison for leading the movement.
These women, from teenagers to those in their 30s, overcame their fears and strengthened their resolve together in prison, creating and singing a song. Although the melody has not survived, the lyrics have been passed down. Sim Myung-chul’s son, Moon Su-il, recalled, “(My mother used to say) the cellmates sang this song frequently, and the guards would often tell them to be quiet.
” In 2019, singer-songwriter Ahn Ye-eun, known for her unique singing style that resembles pansori, composed the melody for a song to revive the spirit of the seven activists. Listening to lyrics like “We prayed with tears of blood / Korea is alive / Mountains and rivers move, and the sea boils,” combined with Ahn's voice expressing anguish, one can feel the intense resolve of the independence fighters. "Nostalgia" sung by Lee Dong-won, Park In-soo The s.