March 1st Movement National Representative Yang Hanmuk Selected as "Great Korean of Our Hometown" by Gwangju Veterans Office

Poster of Yang Hanmuk, 'Great Korean of Our Hometown' in March. Provided by Gwangju Veterans Affairs Office

The Gwangju Regional Office of Veterans Affairs announced on March 3, 2026, that it has selected Yang Hanmuk, one of the national representatives of the March 1st Movement, as the 'Great Korean of Our Hometown' for March this year.

Yang Hanmuk was born in 1862 in Haenam County, Jeollanam-do. He dedicated himself to scholarly pursuits and paid close attention to the changing times and the realities facing the nation. Later, he devoted himself to the cause of national independence, participating as one of the 33 national representatives in the Declaration of Independence on March 1, 1919, joining this historic independence movement.

On March 1, 1919, the national representatives, concerned about possible clashes, held the Declaration of Independence ceremony at Taehwagwan instead of the originally planned Tapgol Park. Afterwards, they voluntarily surrendered to the Japanese police. Meanwhile, students and citizens gathered at Tapgol Park read the Declaration of Independence aloud and continued the Manse Movement, which quickly spread throughout Seoul and across the nation.

Although the Korean people expressed their will for national independence to the world through a peaceful Manse Movement, the Japanese authorities suppressed it with force. Nevertheless, the March 1st Movement became a historic turning point that clearly demonstrated the unity and will for independence of the Korean people. It also laid an important foundation for the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea and the further spread of the independence movement.

The Gwangju Regional Office of Veterans Affairs stated, "On the occasion of the 107th anniversary of March 1st Independence Movement Day, we hope that publicizing the life and spirit of independence of Yang Hanmuk will provide an opportunity for local residents to reflect on the proud history of our region."

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