Korean Declaration of Independence

Initially, the Christian leaders elected to write a petition of two or three hundred influential persons to send to the Japanese government as they felt that the Korean people may not view them as qualified individuals to declare independence.

[3] Ideas relating to liberty, justice, and peace would carry over directly to the Korean Declaration of Independence developed for the March First Movement.

[4] The biggest difference that the drafters wanted to establish between the two, however, would be that the Korean Declaration of Independence would be a lot more moderate and emotionally detached in the presentation of its content.

He believed that the document had to be moderate in content and peaceful in its appeal in order to be successful in gaining sympathy from Japan and the powers meeting in Versailles.

[5] Son Byong-hi, a Cheondogyo leader, also had heavy influence and prominent leadership over the document and the entire independence movement as well due to his finances and organized network of followers in Korea.

The idea of the Declaration was brought about by Christian religious leaders who wanted to start a non-violent protest of the Japanese occupation of Korea.

Shin Cheol stopped the press, removed the Declaration of Indepdence in front of Lee Jong-il, the president of Boseongsa, examined what it was, and then left.

[3] The declaration was read and proclaimed at 2 P.M. on March 1, 1919, at Myŏngwŏl'gwan Restaurant nearby Pagoda Park, Seoul in order to avoid violence from erupting between gathering crowds of Korean students and responding authorities.

Papers were distributed in Pagoda Park to inform the masses that independence had been declared and the signers were arrested and taken to Cogno Police Station.

The paper requested that Koreans avoid violent and destructive acts in response as it would harm the movement and go directly against the wishes of the signers.

With 4,000 years of history behind us, we take this step to insure to our children forever life, liberty and pursuit of happiness in accord with the awakening consciousness of this new era.

We entertain no spirit of vengeance towards Japan, but our urgent need today is to redeem and rebuild our ruined nation, and not to discuss who has caused Korea's downfall.

Our part is to influence the Japanese Government, which is now dominated by the old idea of brute force, so that it will change and act in accordance with the principles of justice and truth.

The result of the enforced annexation of Korea by Japan is that every possible discrimination in education, commerce and other spheres of life has been practiced against us most cruelly.

Unless remedied, the continued wrong will but intensify the resentment of the 20,000,000 Korean people and make the Far East a constant menace to the peace of the world.

The first category is for people who died as a result of their resistance while protesting at home and abroad against Japan's invasion of national sovereignty.