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View of the "Baekbeom Kim Gu" special book exhibition display at Young Poong Book Store's Jongno branch near Jonggak. / Young Poong

Ahead of Liberation Day, Young Poong Book Store is holding a special exhibition with the Baekbeom Kim Gu Memorial Hall spotlighting the life and philosophy of independence activist Kim Gu. Marking UNESCO's designation of a commemorative year for the 150th anniversary of Kim Gu's birth, the exhibition introduces "the power of culture" — a concept Kim emphasized — through related books and events.

Young Poong Book Store announced on the 7th that it will hold the special exhibition "An Independence Fighter Who Spoke of the Power of Culture" throughout this month, in partnership with the Baekbeom Kim Gu Memorial Hall. The event will run at the Jonggak Jongno flagship store, Starfield Coex Mall, Yeouido IFC Mall, Yongsan I'Park Mall, and the Young Poong Book Store online mall.

The exhibition features a curated special display of books covering Kim Gu's life and thought as well as the history of Korea's independence movement and liberation, including his memoir "Baekbeom Ilji." The display is organized around the idea of "the power of a high culture," a concept Kim emphasized in the "My Wish" chapter of his memoir, allowing visitors to explore his life and philosophy through books.

Alongside the independence movement, Kim Gu was also deeply engaged in education and public enlightenment. He taught at schools including Gwangjin School and Yangsan School, and in 1908 served as head of education for the Haeseo Education Association, holding lantern-slide shows and lectures across various regions. After liberation, he established the Institute for Training Nation-Building Practitioners, and in 1949 opened the Baekbeom Institute and Changam Institute to continue his educational work.

At its 43rd General Conference in 2025, UNESCO designated 2026 as the commemorative year for the 150th anniversary of Kim Gu's birth, recognizing that his vision of pursuing world peace through the power of culture aligns with the spirit of UNESCO's charter.

Participatory events tied to the exhibition are also planned. On the exhibition's online page, a quiz on Kim Gu and the 150th anniversary of his birth will be held, with online mall store credit awarded to correct respondents. Customers can also participate in-store via QR code, and during the Liberation Day period, a comment event will be held on Young Poong Book Store's official Instagram.

A Young Poong Book Store official said, "Kim Gu was both an independence activist and someone who envisioned Korea's future through 'the power of culture,'" adding, "We hope this exhibition offers today's readers a chance to reconnect with his life and philosophy."

                                                                                                         Lee Seo-yeon