PRESUMED PHOTO OF YU GWAN-SUN

[Anchor Lead]

A photo presumed to be featuring independence activist Yu Gwan-sun during her school years has been disclosed. The photo dates back 105 years. If its authenticity is verified, it will be the youngest photo of the Korean freedom fighter.

[Pkg]

This class photo was taken at Yeongmyeong School in Gongju, Chungcheongnam-do Province, in July 1915. One of the girls is presumed to be Yu Gwan-sun, who was 14 at the time. Compared to the familiar photo of the independence activist in a prison uniform, there is clear resemblance.

[Soundbite] SEO HEUNG-SEOK(CURATOR, CHUNGNAM MUSEUM OF HISTORY) : "Currently it's just a presumption. We need to verify the authenticity of the photo with the help of experts."

The photo was taken at the time when Yu Gwan-sun was attending Yeongmyeong School, which she entered in 1914. Also in the photo is missionary Alice Sharp, who helped Yu start school and later transferred her to Ewha School in 1916. The photo was discovered last year in the archives on Alice Sharp at Drew University in the U.S. A high-resolution file of the image prompted speculation that the girl in the photo resembles the independence activist.

[Soundbite] LIM YOUN-CHUL(AUTHOR OF ALICE SHARP'S BIOGRAPHY (DISCOVERED THE PHOTO)) : "The photo shows missionary Alice Sharp and probably Yu Gwan-sun, who was transferred to Ewha School in 1916."

The Chungnam Institute of History and Culture plans to send its researchers to Drew University as soon as the COVID-19 pandemic is over to scientifically verify the photograph.