Ahn Jung-geun's final words: 'International law is worse than cannons,' to be displayed in Korea

A poignant calligraphy piece by Korean independence activist Ahn Jung-geun, penned just before his execution, is making its debut public display in South Korea. The artwork, bearing the inscription 'International Law is Worse Than Cannons,' encapsulates Ahn's disillusionment with the ineffectiveness of international legal frameworks when confronted by the might of imperialist forces.

Created in March 1910 while Ahn was imprisoned in Luda prison awaiting his execution on March 26, the calligraphy measures 196.8 cm in length and 44.8 cm in width. It bears the inscription indicating it was written by Ahn Jung-geun, a Korean patriot, in Luda prison in March of the year Gyeongsul (1910).

The phrase 'Man-guk Gong-beop bul-yeo dae-po' (만국공법불여대포), meaning international law is inferior to cannons, is derived from a 19th-century Japanese thinker, Fukuzawa Yukichi. It reflects a critique of the era's reality, where imperial powers invoked international law while prioritizing the logic of force. Ahn's unfinished work, 'The Principle of East Asian Peace,' also touches upon his hopes for peace and order in East Asia based on international law.

The repatriation of this significant artifact from Japan, facilitated by the Cultural Heritage Administration and the Overseas Korean Cultural Heritage Foundation, marks a crucial moment in reclaiming national heritage. Its unveiling, two days before the 81st anniversary of Korea's liberation, underscores its historical and emotional weight for the nation.