Independence Movement Day (South Korea)

A national annual public holiday in South Korea marking the date in 1919 when a mass demonstration was held in the capital city of Seoul calling for independence from Japanese rule. This year-long movement, known as the March 1st Movement, was organised by Korean activists, students and religious leaders and was the largest protest against Japanese colonial rule in Korea. During the demonstration, the Declaration of Korean Independence was proclaimed. This event inspired similar protests throughout the country. Japanese rule of Korea was to last until 1945 but the March 1st Movement remained symbolic of the fight for independence.