"Long Live Korean Independence!" The Cry of Goryeoin Revived in Gwangju

Gwangju Koryoin Village Echoes the Cry from 106 Years Ago
"Koryoin and Citizens March Together, Proving History Is Alive Today"

On the 1st, the 106th anniversary of the March 1st Movement, a reenactment event of the March 1st Independence Movement is being held around the Goryeoin Village area in Gwangsan District, Gwangju. Photo by Yonhap News

The cry for independence that echoed 106 years ago resounded once again in the Gwangju Koryoin Village. Descendants of Koryoin and local residents gathered together to honor the sacrifices of their ancestors who fought for their homeland, and to remember the Koryoin Manse Movement that took place in the Russian Far East.

On the morning of the 1st, the area around Hong Beomdo Park in Wolgok-dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju was filled with a sea of Taegeukgi flags. Participants holding the Taegeukgi marched through the alleys, shouting "Long live Korean independence." This event was organized to commemorate the 106th anniversary of the March 1st Movement and the 102nd anniversary of the Koryoin Manse Movement in the Russian Far East.

Second and third-generation Koryoin who have settled in Gwangju also joined the march. The Koryoin who migrated from Central Asia learned the Korean language and culture preserved by their ancestors, engraving the history of the independence movement in their hearts. Koryoin children performed dances in traditional Uzbek costumes, while university students from Gwangju read the Declaration of Independence.

The reenactment of the Manse Movement in the Koryoin Village goes beyond a simple commemorative ceremony, serving as a bridge between the past and present. The Koryoin, who once wandered after losing their homeland, now build new lives in Korea, remembering the independence movement of their ancestors.

Park Junghoon (42), a citizen who participated in the event, said, "Seeing the Koryoin honoring the independence movement of their ancestors made the history we must remember even clearer. I felt that this is not just a commemorative event, but a moment to reflect on how we can carry on that spirit today." Another participant, Kim Eunyeong (38), said, "By experiencing the Manse Movement with my children, I realized once again that the independence movement is not just a thing of the past, but a history we must continue to remember even now."

The Gwangju Koryoin Village has held commemorative events for the March 1st Movement every year since the early 2000s. With the establishment of the Koryoin Cultural Center and the tourism office, activities to promote the history and culture of the Koryoin have become more active.

Just like that day, participants once again shouted in Hong Beomdo Park, "Long live Korean independence!"