Every year on March 1, South Korea celebrates Independence Movement Day. One of the earliest public demonstrations of Korean resistance takes place on this day. The fact that it took place on March 1, 1919, lends its name, "Samil Jeol," "Three-One Movement," or "March First Movement," respectively.
It was the largest demonstration of Koreans and students demanding independence from Japan and opposing forced assimilation into Japanese culture. A proclamation was issued by 33 cultural and religious leaders in Korea, with the support of thousands of Seoul students and civilians. In numerous other cities, there were over one thousand demonstrations. According to Korean historian Park Eun-sik, they were brutally suppressed, with approximately 7,500 deaths, 16,000 injuries, and 46,000 arrests. During Japan's rule of Korea from 1910 to 1945, these were among the earliest public displays of Korean resistance. The event took place on March 1, 1919, which is why the name of the movement is "March First Movement" or "Three-One Movement" in Korean. Man-se Demonstrations (Korean) is another name for it. 만세운동; Hanja: 萬歲運動; RR: The Manse Undong.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_1st_Movement
Background
The Samil Movement was started as a reaction to the oppressive nature of colonial occupation under the de facto military rule of the Japanese Empire after 1910. It was also inspired by President Woodrow Wilson's "Fourteen Points," which outlined the right of national "self-determination" in January 1918 at the Paris Peace Conference. Korean students studying in Tokyo published a statement pleading for independence from colonial rule after learning of Wilson's speech.
Effects
The March 1st Movement acted as a launching pad for the Korean Independence Movement, which was crucial to the movement's spread to other local governments, including Hoengseong. Many Korean leaders went into exile in Manchuria, Shanghai, and other parts of China to continue their activities despite the Japanese's subsequent suppression and pursuit of activists. In April 1919, the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea was established in Shanghai as a result of the Movement. Nonviolent resistance's expansion in India and many other nations were also influenced. The Nationalist Government of China then established the Korean Liberation Army and granted it permission to operate in China. Activists from the diaspora in the United States, China, and Russia were encouraged to get involved during this time, as were Catholic and Protestant activists.
The March 1st Movement was dismissed as the "Chosun Manse Violent Public Disorder Incident" by the Japanese government, which responded by intensifying its suppression of dissent. Lead representative General Hasegawa Yoshimichi acknowledged liability regarding the deficiency of control (albeit the greater part of the harsh measures prompting the uprising had been instituted by his ancestors); Saito Makoto replaced him. A civilian force took the place of the military police. The so-called "cultural policy" allowed for limited press freedom. During the Second Sino-Japanese War and World War II, many of these lenient policies were reversed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_1st_Movement
Commemorations
Celebrations of Korean independence The March 1st Movement is commemorated annually by Koreans to honor those who died, fought, and protested for the country's independence. This is accomplished by running and participating in festivals, concerts, events, and activities as well as by prominently displaying the South Korean flag in Korean homes and businesses. On this day, just like in 1919, the Korean Declaration of Independence is read in Tapgol Park.
The Commission on the Centennial Anniversary of the March 1st Independence Movement and Korean Provisional Government was established by the Moon Jae-in administration in 2018. The commission was in charge of organizing the year-long celebration of the KPG's founding and the March 1st movement's 100th anniversary. "Scheduling issues" prevented North Korea from participating in the anniversary project together. In June 2020, the commission ceased operations.
The March 1st movement was called "the catalyst movement of democracy and the republic for Korean people" by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/March_1st_Movement
