The Korean Declaration of Independence () is the statement adopted by the 33 Korean representatives who met at Taehwagwan, a restaurant located in what is now Insa-dong, Jongno District, Seoul, on March 1, 1919, four months after the end of World War I. The declaration announced that Korea would no longer tolerate Japanese rule.
As reported by The New York Times in 1919: "Korea has proclaimed its independence. What was formerly the Hermit Kingdom, in this, the 4,232 year of its existence, declares through a document signed by thirty-three citizens the liberty of the Korean People."
This event marked the beginning of the March First Movement, which was violently suppressed by Japanese authorities, and served as the cornerstone for the establishment of the Korean Provisional Government one month later. True independence was achieved nearly thirty years later, following the surrender of the Empire of Japan at the end of World War II.
Drafting and development The development of the declaration began when the leadership of the Christian and Cheondogyo independence movements combined their efforts out of solidarity, viewing national independence as an issue concerning the entire Korean population. Initially, Christian leaders preferred to draft a petition signed by two or three hundred influential individuals to send to the Japanese government, feeling that the general public might not view them as qualified to unilaterally declare independence. However, after joining forces with Cheondogyo leaders, the groups decided to draft both a petition and a formal Declaration of Independence. This approach aimed to present a stronger expression of their desire for self-determination, an concept originating from the Paris Peace Conference that significantly influenced the document's content.
The organizers recognized that this was not the first attempt at a modern declaration; students in Tokyo had recently published the February 8 Declaration of Independence.
The February 8 document focused heavily on the grievances and frustrations of the Korean people, emphasizing the deceptions that led to Korea's annexation and presenting a long history of misconduct by Japan. While core concepts of liberty, justice, and peace carried over to the March 1st Declaration, the drafters of the March 1st document deliberately sought a more moderate and emotionally detached tone.
Choe Nam-seon served as the primary drafter of the document. He believed that the text needed to be moderate and peaceful in its appeal to secure the sympathy of both Japan and the Western powers meeting at Versailles. He reasoned that the international community would welcome Korean independence if it were framed as a natural desire for national freedom rather than an anti-Japanese sentiment. Although Choe did not sign the final document, he was imprisoned for two years for his role in its creation.
Han Yong-un, a Buddhist reformer, authored the Three Open Pledges located at the end of the text. He offered to revise the entire declaration, but the other movement leaders declined his proposal. Son Byong-hi, a prominent Cheondogyo leader, exercised significant influence over the document and the broader movement, providing essential financial backing and using his organized network of followers throughout Korea. The strategic framework for signing, distributing, and reading the declaration was finalized at Son's residence.
Religious involvement All 33 signatories of the Declaration of Independence were religious leaders. Under ordinary circumstances, Christian and Cheondogyo organizations maintained different approaches toward the Japanese occupation. The initiative for the declaration was introduced by Christian leaders who wanted to launch a non-violent protest. Although Cheondogyo leaders generally favored a more militant approach, they concluded that a unified front was in the best interest of the nation and agreed to an alliance based on non-violent principles. Consequently, the 33 signatories comprised 16 Christian leaders, 15 Cheondogyo leaders, and 2 Buddhist leaders. Following the public presentation, all signatories were arrested and charged by colonial authorities.
Printing The printing of the document took place at Boseongsa, a printing shop operated by the Cheondogyo organization, where approximately 21,000 copies were produced the day before distribution. During the printing process, a high-ranking detective from the Jongno Police Station, Shin Cheol, discovered the operation during a raid. He halted the presses and inspected the text in front of Lee Jong-il, the president of Boseongsa. Lee reported the encounter to Choi Rin, who subsequently invited Shin Cheol to dinner to secure his silence. Historical accounts conflict regarding whether Shin Cheol accepted a financial bribe; Japanese records indicate he did, while Korean records claim he refused. Regardless, Shin Cheol did not report the discovery immediately, an incident that historians believe prompted organizers to move the scheduled date of the protest forward from March 3 to March 1.
Signing and reading The declaration was read and proclaimed at 2:00 p.m. on March 1, 1919, at the Taehwagwan Restaurant (historically associated with the Myongwolgwan) near Pagoda Park in Seoul. The organizers chose this indoor location to prevent immediate conflict between the gathering crowds of Korean students and colonial authorities.
Shortly after the reading concluded around 4:00 P.M., Japanese authorities entered the restaurant and arrested the signatories. Meanwhile, copies of the document were distributed throughout Pagoda Park to inform the assembled public that independence had been declared. The text specifically instructed citizens to avoid violent acts, warning that property damage or rioting would undermine the movement and contradict the explicit instructions of the leadership.
Text The following text is from the official transcript of the First Korean Congress held in Philadelphia in 1919:
Legacy
Following the restoration of sovereignty, the South Korean government established official decorations to recognize individuals who contributed to the independence movement. Conferred by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs, these honors were awarded to many of the 33 signatories of the declaration.
The state recognition is divided into two primary classifications. The first honors individuals who died during or as a direct result of their active resistance against colonial rule, recognizing them as patriotic martyrs; this includes several signatories who died while enduring severe conditions in prison. The second classification recognizes surviving freedom fighters and activists as "persons of merit for national foundation."
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