3.16 Marketplace Independence Movement
The Objectives of the Reproduction of 3.16 Daejeon Indong Marketplace Activist Movement
To inherit and cherish the noble spirit of Korean ancestors who resisted the Japanese Colonization for the independence of Korea.
To challenge Japanese imperialism, which has been revived by the distortion of history and military advancement, and to confront the brutality of Japan’s past invasions.
Re-enactmentof the Indong Independence Movement
The first part of this re-enactment was to add excitement to the festival with a play, a Korean traditional percussion performance, an experience of torture, performance of singers, and commemorative photography with the performers. The second part was a street performance that reproduced Korean patriots’ ‘scream of rage’ against the ‘invasion’ and ‘exploitation’ of Japanese Colonization and the scene of prisoners’ transportation and execution.
The third part was an open play called ‘Mireuk Rock of Tears - the Unbreakable Dream’ that sarcastically and humorously views society through the family history of a Japanese scholar and the administration of pro-Japan parties.
The Korean spirit of patriotism was inspired by the exhibition of 100 pieces of photography from the Independence Movement. This event is programmed to be held at Dong-gu’s Indong Marketplace every March 16.
The 3/16 Daejeon Indong Independence Movement was…
The actual gathering for the Independence Movement in Daejeon occurred at Indong Rice Bag Market on March 16, 1919.
At noon, among the piles of rice bags, in a crowd of people, someone suddenly shouted ‘Korea is independent!’ in the marketplace. The people gathered where the shouting was from and found that someone was waving the Taegeukgi (Korean national flag) on a pile of rice bags. It was Tae Seok Yang, a 30-year-old man who led the movement, and his followers - No Won Kim, Un Shim Jang, Hak Do Gwon, etc. - were distributing the Taegeugki and organizing the crowd. The gathering of people soon became a mob and started a powerful demonstration in the afternoon at Indong and around the police station in Wondong.
However, armed troops were dispatched from Yongdu-dong (today’s Munhwa Broadcasting Station) and attacked the demonstration. Eventually, 15 were killed, several dozen people were injured, and nine were arrested.