By Korea.net Honorary Reporter Theresia Kurniawan from Indonesia
Photos = Theresia Kurniawan

This year marks the centennial anniversary of Korea's March First Independence Movement. On this historic day in 1919, public demonstrations were held in several cities throughout the nation demanding independence from Japanese colonial rule.

In Jakarta, several events were held this month to commemorate this milestone. The Korean Cultural Center (KCC) in Indonesia started the celebration with a poster contest stressing the theme of the movement and the establishment of the Korean Provisional Government. On March 3, a parade was held during Jakarta Car-Free Day to reenact the movement. Opening this event was Korean Ambassador to Indonesia Kim Chang-beom, with the participants – comprising both Korean residents of Indonesia and natives -- all shouting "Manse (Hooray)." Leading the parade were eight Korean girls holding a giant Korean flag and wearing black-and-white Hanbok, joined by a traditional Korean percussion troupe. Despite rain that day, all participants kept marching with enthusiasm.

The celebration continued at the main atrium of Lotte Shopping Avenue featuring cultural and musical performances by both Korean and Indonesian performers. Four Indonesian students from the University of Indonesia and Indonesia University of Education also delivered speeches in Korean about the movement.




On March 4, a seminar on the centennial anniversary of both the movement and the establishment of the Korean Provisional Government was held at Atma Jaya Catholic University in Jakarta. The event was organized by the Korean Embassy, KCC and Indonesia & Korea Culture Study in cooperation with Historika Indonesia and the university.

The speakers, all experts in Korean and Indonesian history, were Kim Sung-suk, a lecturer at the University of Pelita Harapan; Rostineu, a lecturer at the University of Indonesia; columnist Kim Moon-hwan; and Hendi Johari, a journalist from Historika Indonesia. They presented how the movement inspired Koreans and Indonesians and the similarities of each country's fight for freedom from their colonial rulers. The seminar was delivered in Bahasa Indonesia while the training materials were prepared in both Korean and Bahasa Indonesia.


Attending all three events, I learned much about Korean history and was so impressed with Korean nationalism. I saw Koreans in Jakarta regardless of age participate in the events with enthusiasm and a patriotic spirit despite living thousands of miles from their motherland.

At the seminar, I learned of many parallels between the histories of Indonesia and Korea given that both were previously occupied by foreign powers. This experience exposed me to stories not told in our history textbooks. I also learned that one of the founders of Atma Jaya Catholic University was a Korean, Ir. J. Paul Cho (Jang Soon-il). He was the son of Jang Yoon-won, the first Korean resident of Indonesia who was also an independence activist. Cho was one of the founders of the Faculty (Department) of Technology before later serving as dean. A building at the university's Semanggi campus is named after him. In addition, Pope John Paul II during his 1989 visit to Indonesia awarded him the St. Sylvester Medal for his contributions to Indonesian education.


wisdom117@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.