Goseong-gun, Gyeongnam Rings Out Independence Cheers at Baedun Market After 4 Years

104th Anniversary 3·1 Movement Commemoration Event Held

On the 14th, Goseong-gun, Gyeongnam held a commemorative event for the ‘104th Anniversary of the March 1st Movement’ at the 3.1 Movement Creativity Monument event site in Baedun-ri, Hoihwa-myeon.

The commemorative event was hosted and organized by the 3.1 Movement Creativity Monument Preservation Committee, with participation from many institutions and social organizations. It focused on reenacting the Korean Independence Movement that echoed in our region 104 years ago to celebrate the 104th anniversary of the March 1st Movement.

At 10 a.m., about 300 residents gathered in front of the 3.1 Movement Creativity Monument in Hoihwa-myeon for the national ceremony, flower offering and incense burning, reading of the Declaration of Independence, a commemorative speech by County Governor Lee Sang-geun, congratulatory speeches by Choi Eul-seok, Chairman of the Goseong County Council, and Lee Dong-hee of the Gyeongnam Western Veterans Affairs Office, followed by the March 1st Movement song and three cheers of Manse.

Goseong-gun, Gyeongnam held the "104th Anniversary of the March 1st Movement" Baedun Market Independence Manse Movement Commemoration Event at the 3.1 Movement Creativity Monument event site in Baedun-ri, Hoihwa-myeon.

After the ceremony, participants gathered at Baedun Market, about 1 km from the Creativity Monument, to hold a reenactment of the Independence Manse Movement.

The Baedun Market Independence Manse Movement began at 1 p.m. on March 20, 1919, with the sound of a bugle ringing out from the central area of Guman-myeon.

The activists gathered at Gukcheon Sajang (菊川沙場), read the Declaration of Independence, firmly pledged to uphold the three articles of the covenant, and then headed to Baedun Market, about 10 ri away.

Especially since it was Baedun market day, many merchants gathered, numbering close to 700 to 800 people, and their momentum was said to be strong enough to move even Mount Taesan.

As a result of that day’s Manse Movement, many patriots were arrested by Japanese military police, subjected to flogging, or imprisoned in Masan or Daegu prisons.

Goseong-gun erected the 3.1 Movement Creativity Monument in 1971 to inform future generations of this historic event and has held the Baedun Market Independence Manse Movement commemorative event since 2008.

This commemorative event, which had been suspended for the past three years due to COVID-19, is newly resumed, making it even more meaningful.

In his commemorative speech, Governor Lee said, “A nation that forgets its history has no future,” and added, “I hope that the Baedun Market Independence Manse Movement commemorative event held today will remember our unfortunate past history and ensure that painful history is never repeated.” He also said, “Let us all strive to achieve the prosperity of our Goseong by upholding the noble spirit of the Independence Manse Movement from 104 years ago.”