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Paju Citizens Vote to Relocate JC Monument to Restore 3.1 Movement Historic Site

Residents in Jori-eup, Paju, have voted to relocate a local Junior Chamber (JC) monument to preserve the historical sanctity of a 1919 March First Independence Movement site. History of the March 1st Movement Site in Jori-eup The Jori-eup…

Paju Citizens Vote to Relocate JC Monument to Restore 3.1 Movement Historic Site

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Residents in Jori-eup, Paju, have voted to relocate a local Junior Chamber (JC) monument to preserve the historical sanctity of a 1919 March First Independence Movement site.

History of the March 1st Movement Site in Jori-eup

The Jori-eup region holds a distinct place in Korea’s independence history. Jeon Sang-tae, vice chairman of the Jori-eup Residents’ Council, stated during the general assembly briefing that the March 28, 1919 independence demonstration in Jori-eup resulted in six immediate deaths at the scene, marking it as a unique and critical event in the national March First Movement history, according to the Jori-eup Residents’ Council. To honor the sacrifice of these patriotic martyrs, a dedicated memorial tower was erected on the site in 1978, bearing the name of the late National Assemblyman Park Myung-geun, who served as the establishment committee chairman.

Community Rationale Behind the Relocation Vote

Recent spatial improvements around the memorial area inadvertently highlighted a spatial conflict. According to the Jori-eup Residents’ Council, the physical placement of the Paju JC monument obstructs direct views of the March 1st Independence Movement Memorial Tower. Kim Woo-ju, president of the Bongilcheon High School student council, addressed the assembly to support the measure, stating that the site should function as an uncompromised space for mourning and honoring patriotic martyrs, and that relocating the JC monument honorably would allow both structures to serve their intended purposes independently, as reported by the Jori-eup Residents’ Council.

Following discussions, a majority of participating residents cast affirmative votes to pass the relocation agenda. Jeong Gi-hwa, an advisor to the residents’ council, emphasized that the decision does not dispute the historic contributions of the Junior Chamber but instead seeks to properly position each monument according to its specific value, as noted by the Jori-eup Residents’ Council. The Paju JC monument itself originated as a clock tower before undergoing two to three rounds of renovation funded by member donations between 1982 and 1984, establishing it as the earliest known monument erected by a regional civic group in Paju.

Next Steps and Administrative Planning

The Jori-eup Residents’ Council plans to initiate formal consultations with Paju JC officials to reach a consensus on relocation principles and procedures. Future steps include scouting alternative candidate sites, establishing administrative and budgetary frameworks, and sequentially executing a master plan for the sanctification of the March 1st movement memorial space. While preliminary discussions between the two sides occurred previously, negotiations remain stalled, leaving the official stance of the Paju JC organization as a central focus for the upcoming relocation process, according to the Jori-eup Residents’ Council.

Paju Citizens Vote to Relocate JC Monument to Restore 3.1 Movement Historic Site

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