In Korea, today is a red day in the calendar. That means you stay home because it is a holiday. My student said once that all red days mean "no work day" and should be all "play days." That initally sounds right. But here I was again at the Chosunilbo office at the same hour as usual. I had a project to finish so the red day did not mean much to me. Only impact was on the road. The road was completey empty since most people where resting so I reached the office faster than I expected.
It was snowing outside. It was March, the start of spring, but there were white flur flying around in the air. Light but scattered around to create a huge white body.
Was the weather that cold in year 1919 too? I looked out the window to see the white body shaping and disapearing in mid-air. March 1st Movement, the so called Samil Movement, was one of the important Korean resistance movements during the Japanese military occupation of the Korean Empire. The word Samil Movement literally means "March First Movement" in Korean.
Since the Japanese military brutally and forcifully occupied Korea in 1910, Koreans have constantly tried to gather and seek a way to gain their nation's independence. But most movements impact were crumbled. Thus, most national heros started to go abroad to seek international support. It was President Woodrow Wilson's speech at the Paris Peace Conference at the end of World War I that became a starting point. At that meeting in January 1919, President Wilson laid out the "Fourteen Points" with the right of national "self-determination." Around the same period, Korea King Kojong suddenly passed away and rumors were said that the Japanese poisoned him. As the news spread, in Feburary 8, 1919 Koreans who were studying abroad in Japan started to gather actively in Tokyo to announce Korea's need for independence.
In Febuary 1919, 33 nationalsts formed the core of the Samil Movement at Taehwagwan Restaurant in Seoul and read the Korean Declaration of Independence which was drawn up by the historian Choe Nam seon and the poen Manhae. The leaders signed the document in February 27th and sent a copy to the Japanese Governor General with their compliments. Copies were made to be distributed for the comunity. And on March 1st, young students and citizens gathered around the Tapgol Park at 2pm where Jung Jae Yong stood at Palgakjung to announce the Korean Declaration of Independence.
Mansae! Mansae! Mansae! Mansae!
(Horray! Horray! Horray! Horray!)
The cry went on and on and on. Approximately 20 thousand Koreans shouted out those word, "Mansae! Mansae! Mansae!." The Japanese colonaizer where horrified. They fired and tried to threaten them to stop the Korean people. But it was no use. The voice only grew louder, and the message was already spreading. Soon before they knew it, the word "Mansae" was in the air in every other city in Korea. The Korean people's voice continued, and the Japanese national and military police could no longer contain the crowd. The Japanese military even shot through the burning windows of the church to ensure that no one made it out alive. People were hurt but their heart was on fire.
Nothing was going to stop them.
Approximately 2,000,000 Koreans had participated in the more than 1,500 demonstrations that followed. Many were massacred by the Japanese police forces and army, but their dedication and effort lived on. In fact, the Samil Movement influenced Gandhi's non violence movement in India and China's May Fifth Movement. And most importantly, Japan had to eventually losen up their control in Korea. Womens found new opportunity after the movement to express their views for the first time in Korea. And soon the movement became the starting point for the eventual independence of Korea in 1945.
I got off the bus and started walking to my office. Today is that red day in the calendar. The street was quite empty. Most people where probably still in bed. The office was empty too. But would we still be here if March 1st 1919 did not exist. Would I still be here as a Korean in Korea? At one point yes, but not on March 1st possibly. The air was quite fresh. It was spring in the air. But it was also a historical day to remember.
Being back in Korea makes me think back of my history often more. Korean in Korea thinking of Korea is something that one should do more on a national day like today.
