“I am a daughter of Korea. For 20 years, I have been through hardships, life, and death together with excellent daughters of Korea fighting for the liberation of our people.”

– 「To Compatriots of Korean Women-Let’s Run Revolutionist Support Business」, 『Independence』, 1945. 7. 11.

The one who introduces herself as a daughter of Korea who stood together for the independence of Korea for 20 years is Du Junhui (杜君慧 1904~1981) from China.

Du Junhui was born in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province in 1904, and studied at Sun Yat-sen University as the first female student in 1924.

Sun Yat-sen University was also attended by many Korean youths involved in anti-Japanese movements and functioned as a center of the Korean Independence Movement. Here, Du Junhui met *Kim Sung-sook, the independence activist who became her life-long partner and comrade.

*Kim Sung-sook is an independent activist, a Political Officer of the Korean Volunteers Army, and a Council Member of the Provisional Government of Korea.

When the Guangzhou Uprising by the Chinese Communist Party failed in December 1927, many Korean youths who joined the uprising were executed. Other remaining Koreans were left in difficult situations. Du Junhui, with Kim Sung-sook, helped Koreans in the dormitory of Sun Yat-sen University to evacuate. She also escaped alongside Kim Sung-sook to Shanghai.

In 1929, Du Junhui married Kim Sung-sook in Shanghai.

The couple participated together in the Independence Movement until Korea was liberated in 1945.

Du Junhui led movements against Japan in the Chinese cultural community.

On December 12th, 1935, she, with other Chinese cultural figures, announced and signed 「Declaration of the Shanghai Cultural National Salvation Movement」 that denounced the Japanese invasion of Hebei, China. She also led anti-Japanese movements of Chinese women as the trustee of the Shanghai Women’s National Salvation Association.

Du Junhui interacted with and supported the activities of Korean independence activists.

When the Second Sino-Japanese War began in 1937, Du Junhui left Shanghai and moved to Wuhan, where she resided with other Korean independence activists. She founded and operated an orphanage while editing and publishing magazines from the Independence Movement Organization.

Du Junhui worked as a Foreign Affairs agent of the Korean Provisional Government.

When the Japanese army closed into Wuhan, Du Junhui relocated to Chongqing. As her husband Kim Sung-sook joined the Korean Provisional Government, Du Junhui worked as a Foreign Affairs agent of the Provisional Government in 1943. From May 1945, she acted as the Director of the Relief and Rehabilitation Administration of the Provisional Government of Korea.

“I always consider matters of Korean women as my own and ponder how my compatriots of Korean women can further fight and contribute to the liberation of our people and themselves.”

– 「To Compatriots of Korean Women-Let’s Run Revolutionist Support Business」, 『Independence』, 1945. 7. 11.

Du Junhui represents the unity of Korea and China against the invasion of Japanese Imperialism. She shared comradery and determination toward the goal of Korean independence with fellow Koreans.

In 2016, the Korean government conferred posthumous honors of the Order of Merit for National Foundation to Du Junhui.

Du Junhui, who showed the solidarity of Korea and China against the invasion of Japanese Imperialism, is the true ‘Friend of Korea’!

Let’s carry on the dream of Du Junhui by promoting Korea to the world and changing the global society.