Korean Citizenship

[Anchor Lead]

Thirty eight descendants of independence fighters from China and Russia have received Korean citizenship ahead of the 71st Independence Day this Monday. Let’s take a look.

[Pkg]

Park Chan-ik was one of the independence fighters who was in charge of diplomacy when he collaborated with renowned independence activist Kim Gu in the interim Korean government. Although he was recognized for his contributions to Korea's liberation by helping to found the Korea Liberation Army, his descendants had to struggle to make ends meet. Park's grandson, Shin Gwang-soo and his brother, lived in China until they came to Korea in 1998 to find their relatives, but they had to leave the country because their visas expired. Shin and his brother, who is severely ill, visited Korea again two years ago after hearing the news about an exhibition dedicated to their grandfather.

[Soundbite] Shin Kwang-soo(Grandson of Independence Fighter) : "I heard that an exhibition was to be held, so I visited and found photos of my relatives."

Last year the Shins were officially recognized as the descendants of the independence fighter based on DNA test results. To mark the upcoming Independence Day, the Ministry of Justice has granted Korean citizenship to 38 descendants of independence activists who had to live as foreign nationals. This was done to pay homage to independence fighters who sacrificed their lives for their motherland.

[Soundbite] Song Jan-na(Granddaughter of Independence Fighter) : "It's a miracle that I have become a Korean citizen. This also entails responsibility."

Even though these people had to live in a foreign land, they are all now Korean citizens.