U.S. municipal government establishes Yu Gwan-sun Awards

Nassau County in Long Island, New York, has become the first U.S. local autonomous entity to establish the Yu Gwan-sun Awards in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Korea's March 1st independence movement. The U.S. municipal government has designated March 1 as the "Day of the March 1st movement."

The Korean American Association of Greater New York said on Saturday (local time) that Nassau County has decided to commemorate the March 1st movement at the county building and honor the spirits of independence activist Yu Gwan-sun by presenting awards named after her.

The New York State Assembly adopted last month a resolution to commemorate Yu and establish the Day of the March 1st independence movement, making Nassau County the first-ever U.S. self-governing region to take such action.

Nassau County Executive Laura Curran held a press conference on Friday, saying that the first commemoration ceremony will occur at the county building starting next year. The county executive added that the Yu Gwan-sun Awards will be presented to high school girls who have great leadership and spirit of sacrifice in the region with the aim of promoting freedom, equality and human rights held by Yu among the local community. Applications are to be filed at the human rights bureau of the county.

Relevant moves have been witnessed in other U.S. regions under the Korean American Associations’ leadership. The incumbent presidents of the Korean American associations had the third meeting on Feb. 2 in Dallas, Texas, agreeing to promote the designation of the Day of the March 1st movement across the United States.

The Korean American Association of Greater New York plans to open a celebratory ceremony for the 100th anniversary of Korea's independence movement at the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations on March 1.


Yong Park parky@donga.com