Topic > Korea: Revolution for Freedom - 1106

Korea was known for its revolt against domestic and foreign problems due to its desire to become a better country. Chon Pongjun wrote “A Call to Arms in Paeksan” in 1894, exclaiming that Korean citizens should rise up and save the suffering people. Additionally, the Tonghak created the “Tonghak Proclamation to Soldiers and Civilians” arguing that Koreans in general should rise together to rebel against Japan. Then, in 1960, Yi Sujong wrote the “Declaration of the National Association of Seoul University Students” arguing that students would not allow Korean rulers to dictate Korea and would bring down the regime. Although the three sources come from different time periods and authors, their goal is to establish change in Korea by rebelling against foreign or domestic domination because Korea seeks freedom. Therefore, the freedom struggle established the connection between the three sources. Chong Pongjun, a Tonghak activist, started a revolution in Paeksan because he wanted to protect civilians from Korea's rulers. Pongjun preached: “We […] are subjected to humiliating treatment by provincial governors and district magistrates. Get up immediately without hesitation!” (Chong Pongjun, et. al, 265-266) Pongjun believed that everyone is suffering from the rulers of Korea in this period because civilians are humiliated by them. By claiming that everyone suffers because of the rulers, he is trying to unite the citizens of Paeksan. Furthermore, he called for citizens to rise up and take part in the revolutionary struggle. Therefore, to demonstrate his seriousness, he stated: “The reason why we take up arms is none other than to save people from unbearable suffering […]” (Chon Pongjun, et. al, ...... half of sheet ...as a result, the three sources shared the common theme of revolution because they all wanted to rebel for freedom Korea as a country endured hardships due to foreign and domestic misadventures, but through the revolution it grew because it learned from For example. , the Pongju Revolution taught Korean civilians that if they band together to create a kind of army, they can fight against powerful rulers. In the Tonghak Revolution, Koreans learned that they are fighting for the same goal: to liberate Korea and progress more as a country. As for the student demonstration, Korea learned that educated people will become the future leaders of the country because they understand the needs and wants that the country needs, especially in politics it became a source that developed Korea because the required reforms changed.