Yu Gwan-sun

Yu Gwansun
Yu Gwan-sun
Korean name
Hangul	유관순
Hanja	柳寬順
Revised Romanization	Yu, Gwansun
McCune–Reischauer	Yu, Kwansun

Yu Gwansun (December 16, 1902 – September 28, 1920), also known as Yoo Kwan-soon, was an organizer in what would come to be known as the March 1st Movement against Imperial Japanese colonial rule of Korea in South Chungcheong. The March 1st Movement was considered a peaceful demonstration by the Korean people against Japanese rule. Yu Gwansun became one of the most well-known participants in this movement, and eventually, a symbol of Korea's fight for independence.

Yu Gwansun was born in Cheonan, in the South Chungcheong Province of Korea on November 17, 1902. From early childhood, Gwansun's father encouraged her to develop a strong devotion to God and Korean national pride. She was considered an intelligent child and would memorize Bible passages upon hearing them only once. One of her teachers, named Alice Sharp, referred her to the Ewha Womans University in Seoul, known today as Ewha University. She was able to attend the school through a scholarship program that required recipients to work as a teacher after graduation. In 1919, while she was a student at the University's high school, she witnessed the beginnings of the March First Movement. Gwansun, along with a five-person group, took part in the movement and participated in demonstrations in Seoul. On March 10, 1919,all of the schools, including the Ewha Women’s School, were temporarily closed by the governor-general of Korea, and Gwansun returned home to Cheonan.

On March 1st, 1919, Seoul was overflowing with marches by people from around the country protesting Japanese involvement in Korea. Gwansun left Seoul after the Japanese government ordered all Korean schools to close response to the ongoing independence protests. She returned to her home in Jiryeong-ri (now Yongdu-ri) and, while there, took a more active role in the protest movement.

Along with her family, Gwansun began to encourage public resentment against the Japanese occupation. She visited churches to tell others of the demonstrations in Seoul, and she planned an independence demonstration with Cho In-won and Kim Goo-Eung. This included people from neighboring towns, including Yeongi, Chungju, Cheonan and Jincheon. The demonstration took place on April 1, 1919, in Aunae Marketplace at 9:00 a.m.. About 3,000 demonstrators participated, shouting, "Long Live Korean Independence!" ("대한독립만세"). By 1:00 p.m, the Japanese police responded by arresting Yu and several other demonstrators. Chaos ensued and shots were fired killing both of Gwansun's parents and injuring Jo In-Won. As a result of the Aunae Marketplace demonstration, there were nineteen casualties and thirty others were injured by the Japanese Military.

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