Ulsan to Commemorate 107th Anniversary of the March 1st Movement

Ulsan City will hold a ceremony on March 1st to mark the 107th anniversary of the March 1st Independence Movement. Approximately 1,500 people are expected to attend, including Ulsan Mayor Kim Du-gyeom and families of independence fighters.

Ceremony Details

The commemoration ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. At the Ulsan Culture and Arts Center Grand Theater. The event will include a national ritual, a report on the progress of the March 1st Movement, a reading of the Declaration of Independence, the singing of the March 1st song, and a recitation of the three cheers for national independence .

Honoring Bereaved Families

To demonstrate respect for the families of those who contributed to the independence movement, Mayor Kim Doo-gyeom will enter the ceremony together with the head of the Ulsan branch of the Liberation Association .

Recognition of Independence Activists

During the ceremony, honors will be awarded to several independence activists. The late Park Seong-sam (grandchild Lee Kang-in) will be posthumously awarded the Patriotic Medal. The late Shin Young-eop (granddaughter Shin Myung-ae) and the late Lee Cha-bong (child Lee Cho-ja) will receive the Presidential Citation .

Memorial Service

Prior to the main ceremony, a memorial service will be held at 9:20 a.m. At the Ulsan Anti-Japanese Independence Movement Monument in Daldong Cultural Park. Approximately 60 members of the Liberation Association are expected to participate to honor the spirits of patriotic martyrs and national defenders .

Mayor Kim’s Statement

Mayor Kim Doo-gyeom stated, “Ulsan, the city of dreams, opening the next 100 years is upholding the will of great martyrs and patriots. Ulsan citizens, who inherited the shouts of that day 107 years ago, will play a leading role and advance Ulsan to the world, adding human warmth to the heart of industry.”

City-Wide Commemoration

Ulsan City Hall has posted a large banner on the exterior wall of the council building and hoisted the Korean flag around the building and on major arterial roads to commemorate the March 1st Independence Movement Day. Promotional videos are also being broadcast on television to encourage citizen participation in raising the Taegeukgi .

Historical Context

The March 1st Movement, which began in 1919, was a series of protests against Japanese colonial rule in Korea . It involved approximately 0.8 to 2 million participants and resulted in the deaths of around 798 to 7,509 people and the arrest of 46,948 individuals . The movement ultimately led to limited cultural freedoms granted by the colonial government .

The March 1st Movement serves as a reminder of the Korean people’s enduring spirit and their pursuit of independence .