page_title: March 1st Movement
section_title: Events in Korea
hierarchical_section_title: March 1st Movement / Events in Korea
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: Une maison coréenne brûlée par les Japonais. English: A Korean house burnt by Japanese.
context_page_description: The March 1st Movement, also known as the Sam-il Movement, was one of the earliest public displays of Korean resistance during the rule of Korea by Japan from 1910 to 1945. The event occurred on March 1, 1919, hence the movement's name, literally meaning "Three-One Movement" or "March First Movement" in Korean. It is also sometimes referred to as the Man-se Demonstrations.
context_section_description: At 2 p.m. on March 1, 1919, 33 activists who formed the core of the Samil Movement convened at Taehwagwan Restaurant in Seoul; they read out loud the Korean Declaration of Independence, which had been drawn up by historian Choe Nam-seon. The activists initially planned to assemble at Tapgol Park in downtown Seoul, but chose a more private location out of fear that the gathering might turn into a riot. The leaders of the movement signed the document and sent a copy to the Governor General.
  We herewith proclaim the independence of Korea and the liberty of the Korean people. This we proclaim to all the nations of the world in witness of human equality. This we proclaim to our descendants so that they may enjoy in perpetuity their inherent right to nationhood.
  In as much as this proclamation originates from our five-thousand-year history, in as much as it springs from the loyalty of twenty million people, in as much as it affirms our yearning for the advancement of everlasting liberty, in as much as it expresses our desire to take part in the global reform rooted in human conscience, it is the solemn will of heaven, the great tide of our age, and a just act necessary for the co-existence of all humankind. Therefore, no power in this world can obstruct or suppress it!
  The movement leaders telephoned the central police station to inform them of their actions and were publicly arrested afterwards.
  Before the formal declaration, Korea also published and broadcast the following complaints, in order to be heard by the Japanese people through papers and media:
  Discrimination by the government when employing Koreans versus Japanese people; they claimed that no Koreans held important positions in the government.
  A disparity in the quality of education being offered to Korean and Japanese people.
  Mistreatment and open disregard of Koreans by the Japanese occupiers.
  Political officials, both Korean and Japanese, were arrogant.
  No special treatment for the Korean upper class or scholars.
  The administrative processes were too complicated and new laws were passed too frequently for the general public to follow.
  Too much forced labor that was not desired by the public.
  Taxes were too heavy and the Korean people were paying more than before, while getting the same amount of services.
  Land continued to be confiscated by the Japanese people for personal reasons.
  Korean village teachers were being forced out of their jobs because the Japanese were trying to suppress Korean culture and teachings.
  Korea's resources and labor had been exploited for the benefit for the Japanese. They argued that while Koreans were working towards development, they did not reap the benefits of their own work.
  These grievances were highly influenced by Wilson's declaration of the principle of self determination as outlined in his "Fourteen Points" speech.
  Massive crowds assembled in Pagoda Park to hear a student, Chung Jae-yong, read the declaration publicly. Afterwards, the gathering formed into a peaceable procession, which the Japanese military police attempted to suppress. Special delegates associated with the movement also read copies of the independence proclamation from appointed places throughout the country at 2 p.m. on that same day.
  As the processions continued to grow, the Japanese local and military police could not control the crowds. The panicked Japanese officials called in military forces to quell the crowds, including the naval forces. As the public protests continued to grow, the suppression turned to violence, resulting in Japanese massacres of Koreans and other atrocities.
  Approximately 2,000,000 Koreans had participated in the more than 1,500 demonstrations. Several thousand were massacred by the Japanese police force and army. The frequently cited The Bloody History of the Korean Independence Movement (Korean: 한국독립운동지혈사; Hanja: 韓國獨立運動之血史) by Park Eun-sik reported 7,509 people killed, 15,849 wounded, and 46,303 arrested. From March 1 to April 11, Japanese officials reported 553 people killed, and more than 12,000 arrested. They said that 8 poli
caption: A Korean house burnt by Japanese.
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