Korean Declaration of Independence

Definition

The Korean Declaration of Independence was a public assertion of independence by Korean nationalists and religious leaders against colonial rule by Japan. It was read aloud at a rally in Seoul on March 1, 1919, sparking the March 1st Movement.

Analogy

Imagine you're part of a school team that's always been controlled by another team. One day, you gather your teammates and announce to everyone that you're now an independent team - this is similar to what happened with the Korean Declaration of Independence.

Related terms

March 1st Movement: A series of demonstrations for Korean national sovereignty and independence from Japan.

Japanese Colonial Rule (1910-1945): The period when Korea was under Japanese control.

Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea: A government-in-exile established in Shanghai, China, which coordinated the liberation effort against Japanese rule during World War II.