March First Movement

March First Movement
Part of the Korean independence movement
A march during one of the protests in Seoul (1919)
DateMostly March and April 1919, continued possibly until 1921
Location
Caused byIdeals of self-determination, discontent with colonial rule, and theories that former Emperor Gojong had been poisoned by Japan [ko]
Goals
  • Secure Korea's independence
  • Gain international support
MethodsNonviolent resistance
Resulted in
  • Violent suppression
  • No official support from foreign governments
  • Damaged Japan's international image
  • Invigorated independence activism
  • Creation of the Korean Provisional Government in exile
  • Inspiration for other protest movements abroad
ConcessionsColonial government granted limited cultural freedoms as part of its cultural rule [ja; ko] policies
Parties
Number
Around 0.8[1] to 2 million[2][3]
Casualties
Death(s)Around 798[1] to 7,509[2][3]
Arrested46,948 (1920 Korean estimate)[2][3]

The March First Movement[a] was a series of protests against Japanese colonial rule that was held throughout Korea and internationally by the Korean diaspora beginning on March 1, 1919. Protests were largely concentrated in March and April,[1] although related protests continued until 1921.[7] In South Korea, the movement is remembered as a landmark event of not only the Korean independence movement, but of all of Korean history.

The protests began in Seoul, with public readings of the Korean Declaration of Independence in the restaurant Taehwagwan [ko] and in Tapgol Park. The movement grew and spread rapidly. Statistics on the protest are uncertain; there were around 1,500 to 1,800 protests with a total of around 0.8 to 2 million participants. The total population of Korea at the time was around 16 to 17 million.[8] Despite the peaceful nature of the protests, they were frequently violently suppressed. One Korean estimate in 1920 claimed 7,509 deaths and 46,948 arrests. Japanese authorities reported much lower numbers, although there were instances where authorities were observed destroying evidence, such as during the Jeamni massacre.[9] Japanese authorities then conducted a global disinformation campaign on the protests.[10] They promoted a wide range of narratives, including outright denial of any protests occurring,[11] portraying them as violent Bolshevik uprisings,[12][13] and claiming that Koreans were in need of the benevolent rule of Japan.[14][11][15] These narratives were publicly challenged by sympathetic foreigners and by the Korean diaspora.

The movement did not result in Korea's prompt liberation, but had a number of significant effects. It invigorated the Korean independence movement and resulted in the creation of the Korean Provisional Government. It also caused some damage to Japan's international reputation and caused the Japanese colonial government to grant some limited cultural freedoms to Koreans under a series of policies that have since been dubbed "cultural rule [ja; ko]". Furthermore, the movement went on to inspire other movements abroad, including the Chinese May Fourth Movement and Indian satyagraha protests.[16]

The anniversary of the movement's start has been celebrated since, although this was largely done in secret in Korea until its liberation in 1945. In South Korea, it is a national holiday. The North Korean government initially celebrated it as a national holiday, but eventually demoted it and now does not evaluate the movement's significance similarly. It now promotes writings about the event that seek to emphasize the role of the ruling Kim family in the protests.[17][18]

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference Database Incidents was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c d Cite error: The named reference EncyKorea Movement was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c Kwon 2018, pp. 115–116.
  4. ^ Hart 2000, p. 151.
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Japan Focus was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ 윤, 호창 (February 19, 2019). "3.1혁명 100년, 이젠 복지국가 혁명이다". Pressian (in Korean). Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  7. ^ Ku 2021, p. 108.
  8. ^ Shin 2018, p. 3.
  9. ^ 김, 진봉, 수원 제암리 참변 (水原 堤岩里 慘變), Encyclopedia of Korean Culture (in Korean), Academy of Korean Studies, retrieved April 30, 2024
  10. ^ Palmer 2020, pp. 208–209.
  11. ^ a b 김, 상훈 (February 14, 2019). [외신속 3·1 운동] ① 그 날 그 함성…통제·조작의 '프레임' 뚫고 세계로. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  12. ^ Palmer 2020, p. 204.
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference YNA 2019 9 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Palmer 2020, p. 210.
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference YNA 2019 6 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ Shin, Yong-ha (February 27, 2009). "Why Did Mao, Nehru and Tagore Applaud the March First Movement?". The Chosun Ilbo. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved June 27, 2009 – via Korea Focus.
  17. ^ Kim, Hyeon-gyeong (March 1, 1997). "In North Korea, March 1st is distortedly taught as being caused by the Kim Il-sung family". MBC News. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  18. ^ Hart 2000, pp. 153–154.


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