Treading the paths of independence fighters: SK Telecom, Independence Hall launch Liberation Day walking campaign

The streets once walked by independence fighters — Dosandaero, Baekbeomno, Maeheonno — will be walked again by their descendants. The aim is to retrace the footsteps of those who gave their lives for Korea's independence, using AI to reconstruct the recorded activities of 18,000 activists and turn them into walking routes.

SK Telecom announced Monday that it is launching "Remember the 18,776 Independence Fighters," a walking campaign developed with the Independence Hall of Korea to mark the 81st anniversary of Liberation Day, inviting the public to follow in the footsteps of patriots and independence activists.

The campaign was conceived to bring the names of independence fighters — preserved only in historical records — into everyday life.

SK Telecom used its proprietary AI foundation model A.X K2 to analyze the activity records of 18,776 independence fighters registered in the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans' Merit e-Archive. Combined with location-based data, the analysis produced 10 walking and running routes across the country.

The routes span major cities from Seoul to Jeju, covering a total of 44.6 kilometers. Participants in the campaign include SK Telecom CEO Jeong Jae-heon, singer Shon, marathon runner Lee Bong-ju and descendants of independence fighters.

The campaign opens with the "Remember the Women Who Led Independence" route in Jongno-gu, Seoul — the first of the 10 courses. Jeong and Shon ran the stretch together, setting off from Saemoonan Church and passing the site of the Geunuhoe Hall and the former lodging of independence activist Song Gye-wol before arriving at Yeollin Songhyeon Green Square.

"On this path, you can encounter the spirit of women who stood at the very front — not as someone's daughter, wife or mother, but as agents of the independence movement in their own right," Shon said. Jeong added that he could feel "the footsteps of women independence fighters who broke the silence imposed by their era and boldly called for self-determination."

Marathon runner Lee Bong-ju ran the "Remember the Independence Movement Lit by Education" course, which connects Jung-gu and Jongno-gu in Seoul. "In a marathon, the person who endures in silence and never gives up is the one who crosses the finish line," Lee said. "Independence was the same."

Musical actor Hong Ji-min covered the Incheon route, "Remember the Heroes in School Uniforms," honoring the student-led independence movement. Her father, Hong Chang-sik, was himself an independence fighter who engaged in anti-Japanese activities at the age of 16. The Cheonan route, "Remember the Flames of Cheonan Manse," featured Choi Seo-yun, the great-great-granddaughter of independence fighter Lee Gyo-ok.

Members of the public can also walk or run all 10 national routes through the running app RunDay. SK Telecom will hold a draw among customers who complete a route and those who leave an encouraging comment on the campaign's official YouTube videos, with winners receiving entry to the 2026 Infinite Challenge Run in Gyeongju.

"We put this campaign together so that citizens can remember the names of the 18,776 people preserved in the historical record," said Lee Seung-yeol, head of SK Telecom's Strategic Communications division. "We will continue to carry out activities that bring the footsteps of independence fighters to light."