Exhibition

Wishing for Independence: The Life of Kim Ku in Photographs

May 5 - June 30, 2005

The life of Kim Ku, one of the leading figures in Korea’s half-century struggle for independence and national unity, was documented in this exhibition of 25 historic photographs from the Seoul-based Kim Ku Foundation. The photographs represented all the critical stages of Kim's life, beginning with his early career as an anti-Japanese activist. Renowned as an uncompromising advocate of Korean independence, Kim reached the zenith of his career during the '30s and '40s as head of the Shanghai-based Korean Provisional Government in Exile. Just as important, though, was his role in the post-war political tumult in Korea that in relatively short order led to the division of the nation into two separate states. The politicians in power in the South accepted trusteeship and partition. By contrast, Kim supported general strikes against the trustee administration, refused to recognize the South as a separate, independent state and made a historic journey to Pyongyang in a failed attempt to urge the North's leaders to accept reunification. The final photo was of Kim's funeral, following his murder by political opponents. The timing of this exhibition was auspicious as 2005 marked the 60th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule. Wishing for Independence was co-presented with the New York office of The Association of Commemorative Services for Patriot Kim Ku. The exhibition debuted with a gallery talk by Jongsoo James Lee, a postdoctoral researcher at Harvard University's Korea Institute and the translator of Kim Ku's autobiography.