President Moon Jae-in has posthumously presented the highest grade of the Order of Merit for National Foundation to Korean freedom fighter and general Hong Beom-do.

The president presented the Republic of Korea Medal during a ceremony at the presidential office on Tuesday, with ruling party lawmaker Woo Won-shik, the chief director of a committee founded to remember Hong, accepting it on the late independence fighter’s behalf.

The presidential office said it decided to present Hong the medal for his contributions to promoting national unity and patriotism by reminding the Korean people of the spirit of independence. 

Hong had initially been posthumously presented back in 1962 the Presidential Medal, or the second highest grade of the Order of Merit for National Foundation. 

Hong, who served as general commander of Korea's independence army, spent the end of his life in Kazakhstan and died there in 1943. His remains were repatriated from Kazakhstan last Sunday.