When I first encountered the Hong Kong protests in 2019, I was compelled to capture them on film. The initial motivation was curiosity. I was intrigued what the Hong Kong residents who marched in the streets demanding justice were thinking. I was curious about their stories. In September of 2019, I visited Hong Kong for the first time and immediately began photographing.

As the project progressed, my desire to document the protest grew into a sense of responsibility and duty. Hong Kong citizens were heroically resisting the persecution of the Hong Kong administration and police to keep their faith in a democratic and free Hong Kong alive. I knew that I had to chronicle their stories and ensure that they were recognized and heard. So I spent the next three months traveling between Korea and Hong Kong, documenting the Hong Kong protests up close and personal.

Whenever I was behind the camera, I felt both obligated and helpless. I knew I had to capture the history unfolding before my own eyes, but I was also unsure whether my efforts would make a difference. But I kept working because I wanted my work to be a source of encouragement and motivation for someone who would carry on my effort. Although a single snapshot may be insufficient, I believe that ongoing records of truth will have lasting impact. I’m hoping that these stories will pique someone’s interest, leading to the creation of a new archive of people’s stories. When these small truths are acknowledged, preserved, and compiled, they will serve as the foundation for the transformations in this world. It is my sincere hope that my images and writings will contribute in some manner to the change that is on its way.