"Jeonju Fortress Right Here"…130th Anniversary Ceremony of Donghak Peasant Revolution's Entry into Jeonju

On the 31st, 'Historical Significance of the Jeonju Treaty'... Sharing the Spirit of Revolution

The cries of the Donghak Peasant Army echoed once again in Jeonju 130 years ago.

On the 31st, Jeonju City and the Donghak Peasant Revolution Memorial Association held a commemorative ceremony marking the 130th anniversary of the Donghak Peasant Revolution’s entry into Jeonju at Nokdugwan, a memorial space imbued with the spirit of the Donghak Peasant Revolution, and at Jeolla Gamyeong.

At the ceremony, themed "130 Years Ago, That Day, Right Here at Jeonju Fortress," over 100 officials from Donghak-related organizations and institutions nationwide gathered, adding significance to the event. Attendees reflected on the historical meaning of the Jeonju Truce. To honor the noble spirit, they paid respects to the remains of an unnamed Donghak Peasant Army leader at Nokdugwan.

The Jeonju Truce was an agreement reached in Jeonju between the Donghak Peasant Army and government forces to end the First Donghak Peasant War after the Gobu Riot broke out due to the tyranny of Gobu County Magistrate Jo Byeong-gap in 1894.

Commemoration ceremony of the 130th anniversary of the Donghak Peasant Revolution's entry into Jeonju on the 31st.
[Photo by Jeonju City]

The memorial ceremony proceeded in the following order: Professor Won Do-yeon of Wonkwang University explained "The Process and Significance of the Burial of the Unnamed Peasant Soldier," followed by a flower offering and memorial service for the unnamed Donghak Peasant Army leader, and a commemorative performance by master singer Wang Gi-seok.

Then, the event moved to Jeolla Gamyeong, where the victory news of the Donghak Peasant Army resounded 130 years ago, to hold the 130th Anniversary Commemorative Ceremony of the Donghak Peasant Revolution’s entry into Jeonju. This included a special lecture by writer Lee Kwang-jae on "The Meaning of Entering Jeonju and the Value of Jipgangso Governance," and a commemorative performance titled "Songs of the Donghak Peasant Revolution," blending revolution and art by the Jeonju Municipal Gugak Orchestra.

Additionally, to widely promote the spirit and values of the Donghak Peasant Revolution, the 130th anniversary ceremony was held alongside the "2024 Jeonju Cultural Heritage Night Tour," allowing citizens to enjoy Jeonju’s diverse cultural heritage, adding further significance.

Meanwhile, the city plans to hold the "2024 World Revolutionary Art International Forum: Commemoration and Memory of Revolution" during the Donghak Peasant Revolution Memorial Week this coming fall. This project aims to establish Jeonju’s identity as a cultural city by integrating global revolutionary art and culture, while also enriching citizens’ cultural and artistic experiences. The 4th World Revolutionary Art International Forum and the 130th Anniversary Art Exhibition are scheduled to be held.

Kim In-tae, Deputy Mayor of Jeonju, stated, "The Donghak Peasant Revolution, a bottom-up revolution based on autonomy and equality, is the beginning and root of democracy." He added, "The fact that our common people took the lead in realizing human dignity and the start of democratization holds great significance in world history." He further said, "We will do our best to broaden the scope of the Donghak Peasant Revolution memorial projects and to widely promote Jeonju’s historical significance and status through the globalization of Donghak."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.