Overview
The Na Seok-ju statue was erected on the site of the former Oriental Development Co., Ltd., where the headquarters of Korea Exchange Bank is now located, to commemorate Na Seok-ju's noble spirit of sacrifice for his country. Na Seok-jusa, originally from Jaeryeong, Hwanghae Province, where the Oriental Development Company farm once stood, participated in the independence demonstration at Gyeomipo when the March 1st Movement broke out, organized a squad to raise funds for independence fighters and eliminate pro-Japanese collaborators, and in September 1920 fled to Shanghai, China. In China, Na Seok-ju served as a bodyguard in the Provisional Government's Security Bureau and at the Handan Military Academy, before serving in Chinese military units. Afterwards, he joined the Uiyeoldan in Tianjin and sought even more active independence struggles. In June 1926, he met Confucian leader Kim Chang-sook and planned to blow up the Oriental Development Company, Joseon Bank, and Siksan Bank, which were exploiting the country's territory and economy. In December 1926, Na Seok-ju sneaked into Seoul carrying a bomb and a pistol, first entered the Joseon Industrial Bank, threw a bomb over the barbed wire fence of the wealthy business, then ran across the main street to the Gyeongseong branch of the Dongyang Development Co., Ltd., where he fired and threw another bomb. However, all the bombs failed. He then entered the Joseon Railway Company right next to the Oriental Development Company, fired another shot, and then went out onto the street. When pursued by police and mounted troops who had rushed to the scene, he committed suicide with a pistol. It is located 120 meters from Exit 5 of Euljiro Entrance Station on Seoul Metropolitan Subway Line 2.