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Seoul to celebrate 100th anniversary of provisional gov't with events in Shanghai

Published: 02 Apr. 2026, 16:16 Updated: 02 Apr. 2026, 18:14

LEE JI-WON
[email protected]

An exhibition poster for the Korean Cultural Center, Shanghai [KOREAN CULTURAL CENTER SHANGHAI]

The Korean government will hold a series of cultural events in Shanghai to commemorate 100 years since the establishment of the Korean provisional government site in Shanghai and 107 years since the provisional government's founding.

The Korean Culture Center, Shanghai is scheduled to host a special exhibition in collaboration with the National Memorial of the Korean Provisional Government from April 9 to June 6.

The Provisional Government of Korea was a government-in-exile established in Shanghai in 1919 to fight for Korea's independence against Japan's colonization.

The celebration follows the restoration of the original provisional government site — especially the 100th anniversary of a building, the name of which translates to Bokyeongni Four, that has been in use since 1926.

The exhibition, the title of which translates to “Great Companionship,” will highlight the restoration of historic sites in Shanghai by showcasing 80 artifacts, including the joint declaration establishing diplomatic relations between China and Korea and the blueprints for the restoration.

The center will also host a musical gala centered on Korean independence activists from April 9 to 10. The composer of the musical will give a special lecture to explain the numbers and the historical context behind the production.

“The Korean provisional government in Shanghai has been the cornerstone of Korea-China relationships,” said Lee Dong-hyeok, the director of the center. “I hope this exhibition reiterates the historical value that the two countries have protected, along with the sacrifice of those who fought for independence.”

BY LEE JI-WON [[email protected]]