March 1 – Independence Movement Day in South Korea

March 1, 2019

Did you know that the Empire of Japan annexed (took over) Korea in 1910?

On this date in 1919, protesters all over Korea demonstrated against Japanese occupation. The Japanese didn't just rule over Korea, they tried to repress Korean culture and traditions. The Japanese abolished the Korean system of money, consolidated banks, destroyed much of the Gyeongbokgung palace, and used Korean laborers to build transportation and communication networks so that Japan could better gain Korea's resources.

The beautiful Gyeongbokgung Palace has
been restored, thank goodness.

The protesters gathered together peacefully in about 1,500 different demonstrations. Altogether, about two million protesters participated! Their demands for liberation and self-rule were reasonable -

But the Japanese response was neither peaceful nor reasonable!

Instead, Japanese soldiers and police used force to stop the protests. I hate to report that about 7,000 Korean people were killed by those soldiers and police!

Korea wasn't liberated until Japan lost World War II, in 1945.

In the Korean language, this holiday is known as 삼일절 (Samiljeol). The direct translation is "3 - 1 Festival Day," with the "3 -1" part being the date March 1.

Apparently, there are a lot of flags
flown and carried and waved today.

The normal sort of patriotic celebrations happen, with businesses and governmental offices being closed, flags being flown, and a reading of the Korean Declaration of Independence in Seoul's Pagoda Park. Parades, concerts, re-enactments, exhibitions.