Seoul: South Korea will send a vice minister-led government delegation to China this week to attend a memorial ceremony honoring independence activist Ahn Jung-geun (1879-1910), the veterans ministry said Tuesday. The delegation, led by Vice Veterans Minister Lee Hee-wan, will attend the ceremony marking the 115th death anniversary of the renowned independence fighter at a prison-turned-museum in the northeastern Chinese city of Dalian on Wednesday, the ministry said.

According to Yonhap News Agency, this marks the first time the ministry would send a vice minister-led delegation to the annual event. The ministry said the decision came as this year marks Ahn's 115th death anniversary, as well as South Korea's 80th anniversary of liberation from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule.

Ahn Jung-geun is remembered for his pivotal role in Korean independence history, having shot and killed Ito Hirobumi, Japan's first prime minister and resident-general of Korea, on October 26, 1909, at Harbin Station in northern China. This act of defiance led to his execution five months later at the age of 31.

The veterans ministry has vowed continued efforts to honor independence fighters like Ahn and has announced plans to launch a civilian-government consultative body to discuss the excavation of his remains.