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안중근의사기념관

Birth and Growth

Execution of Patriotic Martyr Ahn

On March 26, 1900 when it was drizzling, Ahn was executed 
at Lushun Prison. Ahn wore the clothes sent from his 
hometown the previous day and, being guarded by four 
prison officers, was called to the execution place four hours 
earlier than scheduled and arrived at a waiting room beside 
the gallows. Ahn wore silk clothes up and down. The contrast 
between white jeogori (traditional Korean jacket) and black 
pants was so striking enough to make the witnesses emotional 
as if the colors symbolized the fortune of a prisoner who with
in a few minutes would move from a bright place to a dark world.
After capital punishment was finally sentenced, and Public Prosecutor Mizobuchi, Prison warden Kurihara, Sonoki the interpreter and Kishida the clerk sat in the 
postmortem examination room in front of the gallows before Ahn was taken to his final location. Kurihara told Ahn, “According to the sentence and confirmation order 
of Lushun District Court on February 24, we are executing a death penalty.”
After Sonoki interpreted the message, Ahn nodded without a comment. Kurihara again asked Ahn if he ‘had anything to say,” Ahn replied, “I have no dying words, but as 
I killed Hirobumi Ito because to the cause of the peace of East Asia, I wish that Koreans and Japanese would cooperate together to maintain peace in East Asia.” Then a 
prison guard folded two sheets of half-piece paper and covered Ahn’s eyes with them and again with white fabric on them. The last moment of Ahn was coming ever 
closer.
A prison official – who had treated Ahn respectfully and kindly from the first trial to the sentence announcement – allowed Ahn to freely pray for what he wished before 
he meets his final moment. Thanks to a favor of the official, Ahn offered a silent prayer for a few minutes, and then headed to the gallows surrounded by several guards. 
The structure of the gallows was reminiscent of a two-storied house. Ahn silently went up the seven small stairs one by one to a small room – the world of death. Ahn’s 
feeling and complexion seemed more pallid especially in harmony with the white jacket. Ahn sat cross-legged on the floor of the the gallows and a prison guard wound 
up a rope around Ahn’s neck. After the gurad stepped on a switch, the floor collapsed down with the sound of “Bang!” Ahn breathed his last breath at 10:15 a.m. It all 
took only 11 minutes.
Ahn’s last will
“I wish my bones will be buried near the Harbin Park after I die and then 
will be reentombed in my native country after Korea recovers its sovereignty. 
I will also make every effort for the independence of Korea’ even after I go to 
heaven. You go back to Korea and ask our compatriots to take the 
responsibility for the national affairs, to perform their duty, to put mind and 
soul together to make an accomplishment of their own. I will dance and shout 
"hurrah” when I hear the news of Korea’s independence.
Ahn Jung-geun’s Last Will at Lushun Prison. March 9 & March 10, 1910
Message to Compatriots
As I have suffered difficulties overseas for three years in order to help 
recover Korea’s sovereignty and to maintain the peace of East Asia, I will 
soon face death without having achieved my mission. I wish that our 20 
million brothers and sisters would inherit my will by practicing learning 
and promoting industry and achieve Korea’s independence. Then I will 
be able to die without regrets.