A building in Hangzhou, China that was once occupied by the Korean government in exile during Japanese colonial rule has been reborn as a memorial for Korean independence fighters.

The opening of the memorial marked the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between South Korea and China.

The Korean government in exile moved from Shanghai to Hangzhou to avoid Japan’s crackdown, following Korean independence fighter Yoon Bong-gil’ bomb attack against the Japanese military at a park in Shanghai in 1932. The small two-story building and relics testify to the hardship Korean independence fighters faced in their struggle to free South Korea.

The Korean government in exile had to move its headquarters seven times because of Japan’s oppression, but the difficulties never discouraged it from pursuing independence.

The opening ceremony was also attended by some 20 people in charge of maintaining the relics of the Korean government in exile in China.