By Xu Aiying and Yoon Sojung
Photos = Cheong Wa Dae Facebook 

President Moon Jae-in said on July 3 that his administration will work with North Korea to carry out projects to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the March First Independence Movement and the establishment of the former provisional government in exile.

“The joint commemoration projects will help build another 100 years of the Republic of Korea on that foundation,” said the president during a launch ceremony for a preparatory committee that will organize events that will commemorate next year’s 100th anniversary of the March First Independence Movement, the fight against Japanese colonial rule, and the establishment of the Korean provisional government in exile. 

President Moon said, “The March First Independence Movement was the declaration and the act by which the Korean people spoke out about the value of independence, peace, democracy and human rights.”

“The commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the movement and the establishment of the provisional government in exile should serve as the foundation for building a country of justice and fairness,” he said. 

Mentioning the committee that will oversee the establishment of a memorial hall for the Korean provisional government, which was launched this past January, President Moon said, “The memorial hall will faithfully explain the lives and spirits of each of those who sacrificed and devoted their lives to the independence of the country.” 

“We have also been working closely with the Chinese government on the restoration of the headquarters of the Korean independence fighters in Chongqing, sometime by April next year, the 100th year of the founding of the provisional government,” said the president.

“On April 27, both Chairman Kim Jong Un and I discussed joint projects to mark the 100th anniversary of the March First Independence Movement and to mark the founding of the provisional government, and our initiative was contained in the Panmunjeom Declaration,” he said.

“If the South and North can share together the history of Korean independence, both will become much closer in their hearts,” he added. 

The ceremony venue, the Culture Station Seoul 284, was one of the sites of Korea's painful modern history. On the one hand, it symbolizes Japanese colonization, but on the other it was also one of the main gathering spots for the independence movement. On March 5, 1919, independence activist Yu Gwan-sun and approximately 10,000 students gathered there to march for Korean independence. It's recorded by eye witnesses that they chanted, “Man-se,” meaning, “Long Live Korea.”

Then on Sept. 2, 1919, another independence activist, Gang Wugyu, threw bombs there at the newly-appointed Japanese governor-general, Saito Makoto. 

As an official presidential advisory committee, the newly launched preparatory committee will organize the future direction and comprehensive plans for all related commemoration projects next year. 

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