Independence Day in Korea

Today, March 1st, is Independence Day in Korea. It marks the March 1st movement in 1919, when the Korean people declared independence from Japan.

You can read more about the March 1st movement here.

This statue is one of the statues here at the Hanminjok (traditional name for the Korean people) Historical and Cultural Park. It is one of several statues representing those involved in the Independence movement. It also happens to be the only statue of a woman here at the park so I feel a special affinity to her.

Yu Gwan-sun was a student and organizer in the March 1st movement. Having been inspired by the beginnings of the March 1st movement as a high school student in Seoul, she returned to her hometown (in this area) and planned a demonstration for independence. About 2000 people attended. Yu Gwan-sun and others were arrested and her parents were both killed during the demonstration. She was sentenced to six years in prison, where she continued protesting for independence and received harsh beatings and torture.

Yu Gwan-sun died at the age of 18 in prison, reportedly as a result of torture. For many Koreans, she represents the courage and perseverance that, throughout history, helped them to preserve their culture and develop their country despite difficult times. I visited her birthplace, which is located in this area close to the university, last year. And on my daily walks in the park here, her statue is a constant reminder of the courage and strength inside all of us.

You can read more about Yu Gwan-sun here.

Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/march_1st_movement; en.wikipedia.org/wiki/yu_gwan-sun