Independence Movement Day ( Independence Movement Day Day — Samiljol ) is celebrated annually on March 1 in South Korea in honor of the declaration of independence from the colonial domination of Japan and the official start of the passive resistance movement.
In March 1919, the Declaration of Independence was published in Seoul. The declaration was signed by 33 patriots of South Korea, who made up the core of the Samil movement ( or the March 1 ) Movement, and was read in Pagoda Park ( now — Tapgol Park ) Seoul.
A wave of demonstrations swept across Korea, in which about 2 million Koreans took part, and which demonstrated to the whole world their desire for sovereignty. The demonstrations were defeated by the Japanese police, at whose hands it was alleged that about 7 thousand people died and even more were arrested.
Although these mass protests against Japanese politics have failed, it is now March 1 that is considered the day of the start of the struggle for the independence of Korea, and therefore it was declared a public holiday in the country, since 1949.
Today, in honor of the holiday, on this day, a special reading ceremony of the Declaration of Independence is held in Tapgol Park in Seoul, where it was first announced to the public in 1919.