March 1st Movement

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Template:Korean name hanja The March First Movement, or the Samil Movement, was one of the earliest displays of Korean nationalism during the Japanese rule. The name refers to an event that occurred on March 1, 1919, hence the movement's name (literally "Three-One Movement"). The event followed the Tonghak Peasant Revolution and the Righteous army movement, and led to the Shanghai declaration of independence by Korean exiles.

The inspiration for these actions came from the "Fourteen Points" and the right of national "self-determination of weak nations" proclaimed by President Woodrow Wilson at the Paris Peace Conference in January of 1918. After hearing news of the Wilson’s talk and realising its consequences, Korean students studying in Tokyo published a statement that demanded Korean independence. When this news reached the underground movement in Korea composed of 33 Cheondogyo, Buddhist and Christian leaders including Son Byong-Hi that had been secretly forming throughout that year, it was decided that the time to act was nearing. Secret plans were drawn up and information disseminated by word of mouth throughout the towns and villages of Korea.

It was decided that the movement should be staged two days before the funeral of Emperor Gojong. From a Korean point of view this funeral brought to an end not only the Joseon Dynasty but also one of the last symbols of the Korean nation. With the death of their Emperor, Koreans realised that any possibility of an independently ruled nation was lost, and that Korea lay solely in the hands of the colonial Japanese. This situation provided the necessary momentum for the Korean independence movements to mobilise themselves.

At 2pm on the 1st of March, the 33 patriots who formed the core of the Samil movement convened at Taehwagwan restaurant, and read the Declaration of Independence that they had drawn up. The patriots initially planned to assemble at Pagoda Park in downtown Seoul, but they chose another place out of fear that the gathering might turn into a popular rally. The leaders of the movement signed the document and sent a copy to the Japanese Governor General, with their compliments. They then telephoned the central police station to inform them of their actions and were arrested afterwards.

In spite of the patriots' concerns, massive crowds assembled in the Pagoda Park to hear the declaration, and Chung Jae-yong, a student, read the declaration in the patriots' stead. After the reading, the gathering formed into a procession, when the Japanese police fell upon the procession and crushed it. It is said that the crowd was fired upon by the officers. According to reports issued by the Yon-Hap news agency, "…more than 7,500 demonstrators were killed and about 16,000 wounded. Some 47,000 others were arrested by the Japanese police". According to another report the crowd cheered the arrested men.

Coinciding with these events, special delegates associated with the movement also read copies of the proclamation from appointed places throughout the country at 2pm on that same day, but the nationwide uprisings that resulted were also brutally put down by the Japanese police and army.

However, these protests were not ignored by the Japanese. Because Japanese national and military police could not contain the crowds, the army and even the navy was called in. In one instance, Japanese police forces locked protesters in a church and burned it to the ground.

By the end of the months of protests, Japanese officials declared that 553 people were killed with over 12,000 arrested. However, Korean nationalist sources counted 7,500 killed and 45,000 arrested.

Before the Japanese finally suppressed the movement 12 months later, approximately 2,000,000 Koreans had participated in the more than 1,500 demonstrations. About 7,000 people were killed by the Japanese police and soldiers. [1]

As international response to the incident was virtually non-existent, one of the most important lessons resulting from the Samil Movement for the nationalists was that they essentially needed to rely solely on their own efforts. They could not expect assistance from other, foreign nations to fight a battle that was not their own.

Another consequence of the March 1st movement was that it marked a change in Japanese imperial policy. Realizing that their repressive rule was out of date (and wanting to be 'modern' in the eyes of the world), the Japanese inaugurated their 'cultural policy'. This 'cultural policy' involved tutoring Koreans for eventual independence. Some examples of this movement included the relaxing of restrictions that the Japanese authorities had placed on freedom of speech and assembly, and this allowed the publication of Korean newspapers and novels.

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