"We Were Protagonists, Not Supporters, in the Independence Movement"...Korean Koryoin Association Calls for 'Restoration of Nationality' on March 1st Anniversary

Korean Koryoin Association Issues Statement for March 1st Movement Anniversary

"Restoring Nationality Is a Historical Right, Not a Privilege"

The Korean Koryoin Association issued a statement on the 1st, marking the 107th anniversary of the March 1st Movement. In the statement, the association urgently called for the restoration of nationality and institutional inclusion for Koryoin compatriots in order to carry on the legal tradition of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea.

On the afternoon of the 1st, a reenactment event commemorating the 107th anniversary of the March 1st Movement was held in the Korean-Russian Village area of Wolgok-dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju. Photo by Yonhap News.

In its commemorative statement, the association explained that the ideals of an independent nation and the right to self-determination declared on March 1, 1919, represented a historical awakening as a modern democratic republic political community. This spirit was carried on by the Hansung Government, the Shanghai Provisional Government, and the Korean National Assembly in Primorsky Krai, and was ultimately succeeded as the legal tradition of the Republic of Korea.

The association particularly emphasized that the Koryoin community was at the center of the Korean National Assembly in Primorsky Krai, which was a key pillar in the formation of the Provisional Government. The association defined Koryoin not as supporters but as strong protagonists in the independence movement. The statement pointed out that the Koryoin community, due to the forced deportation in 1937, the national division, and the Cold War order, became excluded from the institutional order of their homeland.

Currently, it is estimated that about 110,000 Koryoin compatriots reside in Korea. The association criticized the fact that, despite the community’s efforts to reconnect with historical participation and institutional belonging-rather than simply migrating-many still remain in foreign resident status, calling this a result of structural limitations.

The association further argued that, since the Constitution of the Republic of Korea explicitly states it succeeds the legal tradition of the Provisional Government, Koryoin who contributed to the formation of that tradition must be recognized as members of the Korean nation. Restoration of nationality is not a demand for privilege, but a legitimate call for the descendants of the independence movement community to democratically bridge the gap between history and the current institutional framework.

The association stressed that democracy is not only about commemorating the past, but about reinterpreting and fulfilling its meaning within current institutions. The ideals of an independent nation declared by the March 1st Movement can only be truly realized through democratic inclusion and institutional reflection. Finally, the association declared its commitment to ensuring that Koryoin compatriots are guaranteed dignity and opportunities as responsible members of society, based on respect for historical facts and constitutional values.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.