History of Korea

June 10, 1926 Independence Demonstration

In much the same fashion as the March First Movement, this demonstration was planned around a funeral. To be exact, the funeral of Sunjong, the last ruler of the Yi dynasty, passed away in April 1926. Once again a plan was concocted to hold a massive anti-Japanese demonstration which was to be held on June 10, by the left-wing activists of the national movement. The Japanese remembering what had happened with the funeral of King Kojong, kept their guards up, determined to prevent another such riot. They placed important Korean officials under precautionary arrests, and even prohibited travel to Seoul to join the funeral procession. Regardless, the students developed plans of their own; students shouted "Long Live Korean Independence!" as the funeral cortege passed by, and scattered leaflets which read: "Twenty million countrymen! Drive out the enemy. The price of liberty is blood. Long Live Korean Independence!" Two hundred students were arrested and the incident became known as the June 10 Independence Demonstration. Students demanded an educational curriculum which included issues of Korean interest and needs, the teaching of the Korean language in schools, and the establishment.

Colonial Period