Recreated Historical Mural Depicting Over 500 People Gathering for the March 1st Movement at Angamcheon (Now Seongbukcheon)
[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Seongbuk-gu (Mayor Lee Seung-ro) has installed murals depicting the local history along the Seongbukcheon riverside walking trail (under Bomun 1-gyo), a popular spot among residents.
These murals recreate the history of the independence movement in the Bomun-dong area, based on historical records of over 500 people gathering at Angamcheon (now Seongbukcheon) during the March 1st Movement to shout for independence. The murals depict residents throwing stones at trams heading toward Cheongnyangni and include protest posters expressing resistance against Japanese colonial rule.
Alongside the murals, the protest posters read: "The people of nearby villages are truly pitiful and miserable. Since your village is neither ignorant of the nation nor mute, how can you not know how to shout 'Long live the independence of the Korean Empire'? If the nearby villages do not shout for independence by the end of this month, each village will be annihilated with just two or three boxes of sulfur. We will gain independence like this national flag. ??? Jeon-geori, Jeonnong-ri, Dapsimni, Cheongnyangni, Wolgok-ri, Hwikyung-ri... Other small villages, join forces with the nearby larger villages and shout for independence." This reflects Bomun-dong’s encouragement for neighboring communities to participate together.
The murals and protest posters carry even greater significance as they were created through residents’ own initiative to remember fading historical facts and foster local pride. This project was selected and funded through this year’s district resident participation budget.
Last year, Bomun-dong also installed murals on the retaining wall in front of Seongam Church commemorating modern and contemporary figures from Bomun-dong. This site features novelist Park Wan-seo, known as the mother of modern Korean literature; painter Lee Kwae-dae, one of the most notable figures in modern Korean art; and student activist Jin Young-sook, who resisted the dictatorship for Korea’s democratization. Together, their images tell the story of Bomun-dong’s past in a single visual.
Lee Byung-gon, head of Bomun-dong, said, “I hope this helps residents rediscover Bomun-dong’s identity through its history and culture, and recognize Bomun-dong anew as their home, providing an opportunity to truly understand their hometown.” He also expressed his intention to continue efforts to uncover and recreate Bomun-dong’s history.
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