Ponghwa Revolutionary Site Explained

Type:	Revolutionary Site
Location:	Kangdong County, Pyongyang

Hangul:	봉화혁명사적지
Rr:	Bonghwa Hyeongmyeong-sajeokji
Mr:	Ponghwa Hyŏngmyŏng-sajŏkchi
Context:	north

Ponghwa Revolutionary Site is a Revolutionary Site in Kangdong County, Pyongyang in North Korea.^[1]

The site is associated with Kim Hyong-jik, the father of North Korea's first leader Kim Il Sung. Kim Hyong-jik lived in Ponghwa between mid-March 1916 and November 1917.^[1] At that time, he was teaching at the nearby Myongsin School. Kim had helped founding the school. According to North Korean tradition, Kim helped organizing resistance to the Japanese occupation of Korea in Ponghwa by holding secret meetings of various clandestine groups. These efforts culminated in the establishment of the Korean National Association.^[2]

The site consists of the school, a statue of Kim Hyong-jik, a monument to his revolutionary activities,^[2] the Pisok-gye Monument, ground for morning exercises, the Rock Floor, the Maekjon Ferry,^[1] dwellings,^[3] a shallow well, and a place on Mount Ponghwa were secret meetings were held.^[2] The Ponghwa-ri Revolutionary Museum on the premises opened in 2004 houses historical artifacts related to Kim Hyong-jik.^[4]

In 2009, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) put visitor figures as follows: "During the past more than four decades since the revolutionary site was opened to visitors it has drawn nearly 16 million people."^[5], more than 1.7 million people have visited the site since 2000.^[1]

See also

• Ponghwa Clinic – nearby hospital

References

Works cited

• Book: Corfield, Justin. Historical Dictionary of Pyongyang. https://books.google.com/books?id=5zKWBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA164. 2014. Anthem Press. London. 978-1-78308-341-1. Ponghwa Revolutionary Site. 164.

Further reading

• Guide to Ponghwa, a Historic Site of Revolution. 1976. Foreign Languages Publishing House. Pyongyang. 952048893.
• Book: Ponghwa Revolutionary Site . The Korean Preparatory Committee for the 13th WFTYS . 1988 . KPEA 2JB070 .
• Book: Ponghwa-ri: Historic Place of Revolution. 1972. Foreign Languages Publishing House. Pyongyang. 63509723.
• Book: Springer, Chris. Pyongyang: The hidden history of the North Korean capital. 2003. Entente Bt.. Budapest. 978-963-00-8104-7. 145. Ponghwa Revolutionary Site.

Notes and References

1. News: https://web.archive.org/web/20141012085515/http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2012/201203/news22/20120322-31ee.html . 1.7 Million Visit Ponghwa Revolutionary Site in New Century . 22 March 2012 . 12 October 2014 . KCNA .
2. News: https://web.archive.org/web/20141012020357/http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2011/201103/news15/20110315-15ee.html . Ponghwa Revolutionary Site . 15 March 2011 . 12 October 2014 . KCNA .
3. News: https://web.archive.org/web/20141012090003/http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2012/201205/news30/20120530-19ee.html . Pomminryon S. Headquarters Vice-Chairman Tours Pyongyang . 30 May 2012 . 12 October 2014 . KCNA .
4. News: https://web.archive.org/web/20141012062411/http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2007/200707/news07/21.htm . More Materials and Relics Added to Ponghwa-ri Revolutionary Museum . 20 July 2007 . 12 October 2014 . KCNA .
5. News: https://web.archive.org/web/20141012055014/http://www.kcna.co.jp/item/2009/200903/news22/20090322-03ee.html . Ponghwa Revolutionary Site Visited by Endless Stream of People . 22 March 2009 . 12 October 2014 . KCNA .