Korea rewards Nigerian poets at 100th Independence Day anniversary
Ukpono Ukpong, Abuja
As part of events to mark the 100thanniversary of the Korean Independence Day Celebration, the Korean Cultural Centre Nigeria (KCCN), took time out to celebrate some Nigerian poets for their contributions towards the development of the poetry in Nigeria.
The 9th Korea-Nigeria poetry feast, which took place in Abuja, featured many performances of poetry, drama and exhibitions of which winning poems were awarded with cash prizes.
Speaking at the event, themed, ‘Independence’, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, represented by the Deputy Head Mission, Kim Do Hwan, said the purpose of the event was to mark the 100 years of the Korean Independence movement since 1919, when Koreans rose up in unity against the colonialist Japanese government oppression, that the movement provided a crucial momentum
He noted for Korea’s independence to be later achieved in 1945, including the establishment of the Provisional Government of Korea, PGK in Shanghai, China on April 11, 1919.
To mark the 100th anniversary of PGK, the country hosted a national celebration held in Seoul at 11:19 pm, where there was a display of the Korean struggle, amongst which the case of Yu Gwan-sun, a young female martyr who was arrested for leading a demonstration but kept the ‘long live independent Korea’ mantra even while in prison where she died from injuries caused by torture.
The poetry award which was in three categories featured the adult, student and ambassador’s prize in which the winners received prizes which ranged from hundred to twenty thousand naira.
