1. “8.15 & Its Meaning to Us”
광복절 맞이 태극기 교실
미주 3.1여성동지회
국민서관 <유관순> 2001 홍자경 그림
2. Historical Background
• 20th century- Age of Imperialism
• Superpowers v. colonies
• Korea – Joseon dynasty (lasted 500+ years)
exposed to superpowers’ aggression
• Japan became Westernized since
1853, tried to become the superpower in
Asia
• Japan took away Korea’s diplomatic rights
(을사늑약 1905), finally annexed Korea
1910
6. Meaning of Kwangbok Jeol 광복절
• Day of Korea’s Liberation from
Japanese colonial rule
• Literal Meaning-“Kwang (광Light)
Bok(복 recovery, regain)”
• The darkest chapter in Korean
history-- life, liberty, rights to self-
determination, pursuit for happiness, all
taken away from Korean people
7. Japanese Colonial Rule
일제의 식민통치
• Japanese occupation – severely affecting
Korean people’s lives
• Plundering, seizure, exploitation of
– Land & Natural resources
– People: Forced mobilization through
conscription/deception
• Repression of cultural & national identity
– Korean history damaged, distorted
– Korean names, Korean language were
forbidden
– Japanese emperor worship was forced
14. Reaction of Common people
Righteous Armies - 의병
organized military action
15. Students in Action
• Role of Students in Independence
Movement- Catalyst for major protest
– 2.8 Tokyo Students‟ Declaration, 1919
– March First Movement - 3.1운동, 1919
– June 10th Protest -6.10 만세사건, 1926
– 1929 Gwangju Student Movement
광주학생운동
28. Massive Participation
3.1 Movement Statistics
March- April 1919
•Nation-wide uprising against Japanese colonial
rule, more than 2 millions participated
Death Toll Injured Arrested Houses Total
/Churches Participants
burnt
7,509 15,961 46,948 715 houses 2,023,098
47 churches
29. Yoo Kwansoon,
student martyr
Kwansun, convincing
home village people to take action
34. Korean Provisional Government
Initial Cabinet members, Ahn Changho, 1919
임시정부 국무
원 (1919년 10
월 11일). 앞줄
왼쪽부터 신익
희, 안창호, 현
순. 뒷줄 김
철, 윤현진, 최
창식, 이춘숙.
41. Independence Movement
Women Activists
Yoon Heesoon 윤희순
Wives’ Song for
Righteous Army
Nam Jahyun, activist in
Manchuria
42. Forced Mobilization by Japan
• For Japan’s Invasions
– Sino-Japanese (China-Japan) War (1937)
– Pacific War during WWII (1941)
• More than 6.5 million Korean people
forcibly taken for war efforts
– Military draft 징병
– Forced laborer for mines, factories, etc 징용
– Sexual slaves for Japanese soldiers
일본군’위안부’
49. Remembering & Reinventing
“8-15 Spirit”
Korea was liberated as Japan lost the war. True, but
• Why do we have to celebrate?
• Why common people‟s efforts to make
change is important
• Has Korea been truly liberated?
• How to reconcile with Japan
• Future destiny of Korean People and
US
50. “Encounter”
만남
by
Kim Sun Duk
김순덕, victim of
sex slavery
What did she
try to envision
for Korea’s
future?
51.
52.
53. Why Taegukgi is important to us?
Presented by 정연진 Jean Chung
Historical Justice Now/ Action for One Korea
justice815@gmail.com. 213.923.0828