The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs is looking for descendants of independence activists who were awarded national honors but have not yet received them due to unverified family ties.
If you believe you may be a descendant, you can apply with documents such as a family register or genealogy records. Once verified, the medal will be formally presented.
For more information, please call ☎1577-0606.

Meritorious Service Record

Minerva Louise Guthapfel was a Methodist missionary in Korea who supported the Korean independence movement by raising awareness of the country’s plight following the March 1st Movement.
She first arrived in Korea in 1903, conducting missionary work in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province before returning to the United States in 1912.
Upon learning of the March 1st Movement in 1919, she traveled to various churches in the American Midwest, informing congregations about the harsh conditions in Korea and urging women’s organizations to support Korea’s independence movement.
In October 1919, she participated in the establishment of the Korean Friends Association in Chicago, serving as its secretary. Through this organization, she actively spread information about Korea’s situation, advocated for independence, and helped organize fundraising efforts for Korean relief aid.
In 1920, she published newsletters condemning Japanese atrocities and petitioned the U.S. Congress and government to address Korea’s independence issue. She also conducted multiple lecture tours to build pro-Korean sentiment in the United States.
On November 21, 1921, alongside Korean Friends Association President Tomkins, she sent a petition to Charles Evans Hughes, the head of the U.S. delegation at the Washington Naval Conference, urging him to allow a Korean representative to attend and to bring Korea’s independence issue to the table.
In 2015, the South Korean government posthumously awarded Minerva Louise Guthapfel the National Foundation Medal in recognition of her contributions to Korea’s independence.