On July 4, the United States is abuzz with its "Independence Day" celebrations. Korean media are also giving this considerable coverage. This means the United States is an important country to us. The meaning of the Independence Day the U.S. commemorates is likewise important. Although the circumstances differ, both the United States and Korea gained "independence" from colonial rule to establish their current systems and continue to maintain them today.
The mood is the same within Korea. On the front of the U.S. Embassy building near Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul's Jongno-gu district, a large placard now hangs. A close look reveals it reads "Celebrating 250 Years of American Freedom." It means commemorating the July 4 "Independence Day" that every Korean knows. The English words literally mean "the day independence was achieved," which we generally translate as "Independence Day."
Looking at it this way is admittedly confusing. Is it really "independence," or "commemoration of independence," or "founding of the nation"? And what is "Freedom"? Strictly defined, the Korean translation "250th anniversary of independence" now displayed at the U.S. Embassy is incorrect. The event that took place on July 4, 1776, 250 years ago from now, was the proclamation of the "Declaration of Independence." While the "declaration of independence" is not unimportant, it is not "independence" itself.
The history of American independence can be briefly summarized as follows. In colonial America under Britain, the "Second Continental Congress," a gathering of representatives from 13 states, convened on May 10, 1775. (The First Continental Congress had been held earlier in 1774.) The Second Continental Congress led the War of Independence against Britain that began that same year in April. The Continental Congress effectively performed the role of a "provisional government."
The famous "Declaration of Independence" (its original title, The Unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America) was proclaimed on July 4, 1776. Of course, even though independence was "declared," nothing changed dramatically right away. The back-and-forth War of Independence with Britain continued afterward. And at first, the United States was at a disadvantage. Fortunately for the United States, it received active support from European nations including France, then a great power, as well as the Netherlands and Spain. They supported the newly independent nation out of a desire to check Britain.
As Britain's difficulties deepened, the "Treaty of Paris" was ultimately signed in Paris, France, in September 1783. Here, American independence was recognized internationally. And then discussions followed among the states within the U.S. over what kind of nation to build. The U.S. Constitution was drafted and signed in September 1787, and afterward, from Delaware in December 1787 to Rhode Island in May 1790, all 13 states completed ratification of this Constitution, completing the federal nation of the United States of America as we know it today. (The U.S. government was established in 1789 when the Constitution took effect through ratification by nine or more states.) The term of George Washington, America's first president, began in April 1789.
According to this history, it is only natural that debate arises over how to view "American independence." That is, when did the "founding" that marks the beginning of the nation called the United States occur? Interpretations may vary widely: 1774, when the Continental Congress first convened; 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was made public; 1783, when the war was won and independence recognized internationally; 1787, when the Constitution was enacted; or 1789, when the U.S. Constitution took effect and the first president was inaugurated.
Of course, there is said to be no dispute within the United States. America's official "Independence Day" is July 4, 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was proclaimed. This is why a banner reading "250th anniversary of independence" hangs on the U.S. Embassy building in Seoul.
The reason for speaking at length about America is, of course, because of Korea. It concerns how to view the standard for Korea's independence and establishment of government. Compared with the United States, it is as follows. In a state of Japanese colonization, a "declaration" demanding independence was proclaimed on March 1, 1919. This is precisely the March 1 (Samil) Movement. Because that year was the year of Gimi, it is also called the "Gimi Declaration of Independence." It was declared by the 33 national representatives at Taehwagwan in Seoul's Jongno-gu district, then made public to ordinary people at Tapgol Park. Its first sentence begins, "We hereby declare that Joseon is an independent state and that Koreans are a self-governing people." (After colonizing the Korean Empire, Japan changed its name back to "Joseon.") And the independence demonstrations spread nationwide.
As a direct result of the March 1 Movement, anti-Japanese independence activists gathered in Shanghai and formed the Provisional Legislative Council on April 10, 1919. There, a proposal emerged that "since we fell as Daehan, let us rise as Daehan," and there is a theory that the national title was set as Daehan Minguk (Republic of Korea). Of course, most agreed on the national title "Daehan Minguk" in the sense of succeeding the Korean Empire, which had succeeded Joseon. And the next day, on April 11, 1919, the Provisional Legislative Council enacted the Provisional Charter of the Republic of Korea, equivalent to a "provisional constitution," and elected Syngman Rhee as prime minister (later president), the head, forming the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea.
The war of independence was already continuing, but the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea more systematically commanded the independence army, and later the Liberation Army, in waging war against Japan. It also received help from China (then the Republic of China) and the United States. The United States and China were supporting Korea out of a desire to win the war against Japan. As mentioned earlier, the U.S. received support from France when it gained independence, and China from the U.S., respectively.
When Japan declared its unconditional surrender on August 15, 1945, Korea was liberated along with the other colonies Japan had ruled. After three years of back-and-forth, the government of the Republic of Korea was established on August 15, 1948, and Syngman Rhee became the first president of the Republic of Korea, beginning his term from that day.
If a comparison must be made, "America's July 4" is Korea's "March 1." Why does the U.S. promote it as the "250th anniversary of independence"? Perhaps there is a desire to boast that America's founding history is at least a little older. It is also plausible that meaning has been assigned to it as independence into a republic rather than a monarchy.
Then what about us? In fact, there have been many instances of establishing a government throughout our history. This is a case different from the United States, a newly independent nation. Following the Three Kingdoms period, we had many opportunities to establish a government, through Goryeo, Joseon, and up to the Republic of Korea. Therefore, the establishment of the government of the Republic of Korea is not a special case in history. It was only the ruling forces of each respective nation who assigned meaning to the individual foundings that took place.
Therefore, if the establishment of the government of the Republic of Korea is truly special, it is right to view that as being due to the March 1 Declaration of Independence, the movement, and the results of what was effectively a revolution. It is in the sense that it demonstrated a general will to abolish the system of the king (王) and establish a "democratic republic" in which the people (民) become the foundation of the state. That is why Article 1 of our current Constitution reads, "The Republic of Korea shall be a democratic republic." Earlier, Article 1 of the Constitution of the Korean Empire (Daehanguk Gukje), promulgated in 1899, read, "The Korean Empire is a self-governing, independent empire," and Article 2 read, "The politics of the Korean Empire is an autocracy that shall remain unchanged for all ages."
As far as this reporter knows, I have never met anyone at home or abroad who argues that America's Independence Day (or Independence Memorial Day) is not July 4. Yet it is regrettable that, when it comes to Korea, there are cases where a different logic is applied.
[From the Cultural Capital, by Senior Reporter Choi Soo-moon] This column examines the cultural phenomena unfolding in "Korea," a global cultural capital, and explores the path it must take to become a true cultural capital.
