Korea’s March 1st Independence Movement
Originally written by Shin Sang-soon
(Originally appearing in Gwangju News, March 2006)
As this March is the centennial observance of the March 1st (1919) Independence Movement, we thought it fitting to commemorate the occasion by bringing you this 2006 article by Prof. Shin Sang-soon, longtime contributor to the Gwangju News on things Korean, with supplements from his March 2010 article on the same topic. — Ed.
Korea starts the month of March with a holiday commemorating the independence movement of March 1, 1919. After implementing the Meiji Restoration in 1868 and pursuing a national policy of “wealthy country and strong army” (buguk-gangbyeong, 부국강병), Japan was intent on advancing into the Asian mainland through Korea. The 16th-century Japanese invasions of Korea (Imjin-waeran, 임진왜란; 1592–98) had already confirmed this. After winning wars with China (1894–95) and with Russia (1904–05), Japan’s design on Korea became nakedly apparent.
Japan’s victories over China and Russia gave Japan supremacy over the Korean Peninsula, allowing Japan to freely undertake any schemes it wished in relation to Korea. A series of incidents ensued: Queen Min’s murder in 1895 by a group of ronins (lordless samurai); the intervention by the Japanese into the Joseon Empire’s internal affairs; the 1905 Protectorate Treaty, which completely deprived Joseon of its sovereign power to maintain relations with foreign governments; and finally, five years later in 1910, the last king, King Sunjong, was forced to make the proclamation of Joseon’s annexation by Japan. The Korean people’s animosity towards Japan was about to reach its boiling point.
There are numerous stories surrounding the Annexation Treaty of August 22, 1910. It was the official start of the colonization of Korea. When the treaty became known to the public, the reaction was violent. Several patriots committed suicide, lamenting the loss of their country. Some raised “righteous armies” (uibyeong, 의병) of commoners, only to be put down by the mighty Japanese forces. Uneasy times drifted on for several years.
Early in 1918, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson made a 14-point peace proposal in dealing with the aftermath of World War I. One of the points was a “national self-determination” policy, which immediately grabbed the attention of weaker nations all over the world. At this time, The Japan Advertiser of December 1, 1918, reported that Syngman Rhee and two other Korean residents in America would attend the Paris Peace Conference as the representatives of the Korean people. This news encouraged Korean students in Tokyo to form the Korean Independence Youth Association in secrecy. Early in 1919, their leaders managed to draw up a Declaration of Independence and proceeded to proclaim independence on February 8, 1919, at the Korean YMCA in Tokyo. But this plan was uncovered in advance by the Japanese authorities and the leaders were arrested.
The student movements in Tokyo gave impetus to the leaders on the peninsula. Thirty-three leaders representing Christian, Buddhist, and Chondogyo (천도교, Heavenly Way) faiths secretly prepared their proclamation of Korean independence for delivery on March 1, 1919, at Pagoda Park in Seoul. With the sounding of the noon bell, one of the leaders read aloud the Declaration of Independence. The thousands of people gathered there exclaimed “Manse! Manse!” (만세, 만세; Long live [Korea]!). A national frenzy spread over the peninsula like wildfire.
The declaration was a peaceful one, as the crowd was empty-handed but for the piece of paper the declaration was written on. But the Japanese colonial authorities’ retaliation was swift and forceful. Here are two examples: Near Suwon, Japanese troops rounded up the entire population of Jeam-ri village, herded them into a church, shot them all, and burned down the building. Yoo Gwan-sun, a 16-year-old Ewha Girls’ High School student was arrested for leading a “Manse” movement in Chungcheong Province. She was put in prison and tortured to death.
Even though the peaceful uprising failed to achieve independence, the March 1st Movement became the symbol of the Korean independence movement. Its spirit is inscribed in the preamble to the Korean constitution:
We, the people of Korea, proud of a resplendent history and traditions dating from time immemorial, upholding the cause of the Provisional Republic of Korea Government born of the March First Independence Movement of 1919…
Korea was freed from the chains of colonial rule with the defeat of Imperial Japan in World War II. With her liberation, South Korea became a democratic republic in 1948. Manse!
Text arranged by David Shaffer
The Author
Shin Sang-soon was a longtime professor of English education at Chonnam National University. After his retirement, he was the columnist for “The Korean Way,” which ran in the Gwangju News from 2002 to 2010. Prof. Shin was also an early editor-in-chief of the Gwangju News and a senior advisor to the Gwangju International Center.