Meet '1919 Philadelphia' Korean Independence Movement Conference as a Musical Drama

From March 1, KBS Changwon Hall ... Hosted by Gyeongnam Christian Federation

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Jo Yoon-jung] The documentary musical drama "1919 Philadelphia," hosted by the Gyeongnam Christian Federation, Gyeongnam Holy City Movement Headquarters, and the Barun Value Protection Gyeongnam Residents' Union, will be held at the Gyeongnam KBS Changwon Hall for five days starting March 1, marking the 104th anniversary of the March 1st Movement.

The musical drama stages the story of the Philadelphia Korean Freedom Conference, which played a foundational role in overseas independence movements and the establishment of the Republic of Korea during that era. This musical drama has been performed several times in Seoul and is now invited to perform in Gyeongnam.

The musical drama "1919 Philadelphia" will be held for five days starting March 1 at Changwon KBS Hall. Scenes from last year's Seoul performance. [Image provided by Barun Gachi Suho Gyeongnam Residents' Union]

The reason the Christian federation hosted and is performing this event is because the musical drama contains many Christian stories and deeply reflects the background of American churches participating in the foundation of the Republic of Korea.

The Philadelphia Korean Freedom Conference, held for three days from April 14, 1919, shortly after the March 1st Independence Movement, became a catalyst for overseas anti-Japanese independence movements and played a strong patron role for the Shanghai Provisional Government, which is the background of the story.

In particular, the American Korean Freedom Conference was an independence movement jointly executed by pioneers active overseas such as Seo Jae-pil, Lee Seung-man, Yu Il-han, Min Chan-ho, and American Christian leaders including Pastor Tompkins and Father Dean.

Jewish playwright George Benedict, who wrote the script for this drama, was aware of Korea’s March 1st Movement and the American Korean Freedom Conference, and aimed to dramatize the narrative record of Korea’s independence movement while remembering the history of Jewish massacres.

March of participants after the Korean National Representative Meeting held in Philadelphia in 1919.

Lee Hye-kyung, honorary professor at Kookmin University and art platform general director who created the musical drama, stated, “We placed all importance on dramatizing our significant independence movement and founding story through music.”

Lee Gil-su, the promotion committee chairman and elder of Namsan Church who hosted the event, said, “It is quite difficult to hold such a cultural project in the provinces, so I am grateful that it can be shown not only to Christians but also to the residents.”