In Spring 2025, Korean Independence Legacy (KIL) co-founders Diann Rowland and Inja Yim led a historic trip to South Korea that coincided with the 120th anniversary of the first Korean migration to Mexico—among them, Diann’s own ancestors. Representing the inaugural gathering of Korean Independence Legacy, the delegation included more than 20 descendants of early Korean immigrants to the United States, Mexico, and Cuba, representing the diverse and intergenerational breadth of the Korean diaspora in the Americas.

The journey illuminated the ways in which colonialism and imperialism shaped Korean migration and identity across borders. Participants visited significant sites—including Dosan Memorial Park, the Independence Hall of Korea, the Korean National Aviation Museum, and the beaches of Busan—honoring the legacy and vision of their ancestors while carrying forward the enduring spirit of the Korean Independence Movement.