March First Movement

The March First Movement was a nationwide Korean protest against Japanese colonial rule that began on March 1, 1919, and helped galvanize the independence struggle.

Japanese rule in Korea: Japan's colonial administration of Korea from 1910 to 1945. The movement challenged the colonial system imposed after Japan annexed Korea.
Samiljeol: The South Korean national holiday commemorating the March 1, 1919 independence demonstrations. The date became the movement’s enduring annual commemoration.
Son Byong-hi: A Korean independence activist and leader of the Cheondogyo religion who helped organize the 1919 movement. He was a central organizer among the declaration’s signatories.
Korean Provisional Government: A Korean government-in-exile founded in Shanghai in 1919 to pursue independence from Japan. The movement’s aftermath helped spur its establishment and gave it a claim to represent Korea.
Fourteen Points: Woodrow Wilson's 1918 statement of principles for postwar peace, including national self-determination. Its language of self-determination encouraged hopes for Korea's independence after World War I.
Korean Declaration of Independence signatories: The thirty-three Korean religious and civic leaders who signed the declaration of independence. They arranged the declaration’s public reading and initiated the movement’s first demonstration.
Yu Gwan-sun: A Korean student independence activist who took part in demonstrations and organized protests in her home region. Her activism became a prominent example of student participation and colonial repression.
Cultural rule: A Japanese colonial policy in Korea, introduced after 1919, that relaxed some controls while maintaining imperial authority. The protests prompted a shift from openly harsh rule toward a moderated colonial policy.
Korean Declaration of Independence: A statement read by Korean independence activists on March 1, 1919, proclaiming Korea's independence from Japan. Its proclamation gave the demonstrations a shared political purpose.
Pagoda Park: A historic park in Seoul, also known as Tapgol Park, where independence activists gathered in 1919. A public reading there helped launch demonstrations in the capital.

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