As Korea marks its 80th Liberation Anniversary in 2025, VANK launches a campaign celebrating foreign independence activists who stood with Korea during its fight for freedom. Figures like Homer Hulbert, who championed Hangeul and independence, Kaneko Fumiko, who fought alongside Korean leaders, and Ernest Bethell, who exposed Japanese atrocities, symbolize solidarity that transcends borders.
The campaign’s initiatives include:
1️⃣ Respecting 246,000 “Homer Hulberts” in Korea by advocating fair treatment of foreign residents contributing to Korean society.
2️⃣ Collaborating with 200 million “Ernest Bethells”—Hallyu fans worldwide—to address global injustices inspired by Bethell’s activism.
3️⃣ Expressing gratitude to the homelands of activists like Hulbert, Kaneko, and Bethell through cultural diplomacy.
4️⃣ Sharing their legacies globally to inspire solidarity and understanding, spotlighting figures like George L. Shaw and Frederick Arthur McKenzie.
Seong Hye-seung, a youth researcher, emphasizes, “To lead the world on the 80th anniversary of liberation, Korea must embrace inclusivity without prejudice.”
This campaign, part of VANK’s five-project initiative, aims to honor history, promote multicultural inclusivity, and present a future-oriented vision. Upcoming projects include AI-powered national branding and training ambassadors to spread Korea’s spirit of liberation worldwide.