Seoul exhibition marks 150th birth anniversary of independence icon Kim Koo

In the turbulent wake of World War II, as Korea struggled to forge a unified national identity out of the ashes of Japan's 1910-45 colonial occupation, a modest residence in downtown Seoul known as Gyeonggyojang became the nerve center of a fledgling democracy.

There, Kim Koo — the revered leader of Korea’s provisional government — crafted a vision for his nation that reached far beyond mere political sovereignty.

Starting Tuesday, this historic site will serve as the backdrop for a special commemorative exhibition titled "Kim Koo: A Global Value," honoring the 150th anniversary of his birth in 1876.

Co-hosted by the National Heritage Administration and the Seoul Museum of History, the exhibition runs through Aug.

30 — a month chosen to coincide with Kim’s birthday on Aug.

29, an occasion officially recognized on UNESCO's calendar of anniversaries this year.

Rather than presenting a standard chronological timeline, the curation zeroes in on the dramatic human events that unfolded inside Gyeonggyojang itself.

After returning from exile in China in November 1945, Kim transforme ...