Mayor Joo Gwang-deok: "Inheriting the Spirit of March 1st... Creating a City Where Everyone Is Happy"

Namyangju City Holds the 106th Anniversary March 1st Independence Movement Commemoration Event
Carrying on the Spirit of the Independence Movement with Torchlight Parade and Three Cheers for Independence Reenactment

The Namyangju Cultural Center in Gyeonggi Province (Director Kim Kyung-don) held the ‘106th Anniversary of the March 1st Independence Movement Commemoration Event’ on the 28th at Wolsan Church in Hwado-eup and at Maseok Station Plaza.

On the 28th, Namyangju Mayor Joo Gwang-deok, Namyangju City Council Chairman Jo Seong-dae, Namyangju Cultural Center Director Kim Kyung-don, Namyangju Branch President of the Liberation Association Lee Gil-hyung, descendants of independence activists, and citizens participated in the "106th Anniversary of the March 1st Independence Movement Celebration" held at Wolsan Church in Hwado-eup and at Maseok Station Square. Provided by Namyangju City

The March 1st Independence Movement Commemoration Event began to carry on the spirit of the independence movement led by Pastor Kim Pil-gyu and about 200 residents of Dannae-ri and Wolsan-ri in Hwado-eup in March 1919.

About 300 people participated in the ceremony, including Namyangju Mayor Joo Gwang-deok, Namyangju City Council Chairman Jo Seong-dae, Namyangju Cultural Center Director Kim Kyung-don, Chairman of the Namyangju Branch of the Liberation Association Lee Gil-hyung, descendants of independence activists, and citizens.

Under the slogan “Shouting Long Live Korean Independence Together from Wolsan Church to Maseok Station!”, the event proceeded in the order of △Part 1: Commemorative Worship and Ceremony △Part 2: Torchlight Parade △Part 3: Three Cheers for Independence Performance.

In particular, participants held a torchlight parade from Wolsan Church to Maseok Station Plaza while shouting “Long Live Korean Independence,” reflecting on the passionate cries for independence from that day.

Mayor Joo Gwang-deok said in his congratulatory speech, “The spirit of the March 1st Movement is not just a historical event but a precious legacy that gives courage and hope to us living in the present,” adding, “We will inherit the spirit of these patriotic ancestors and strive to develop Namyangju City further and make it a city where all citizens are happy.”

On the 28th, the "106th Anniversary of the March 1st Independence Movement Celebration" was held in front of Wolsan Church located in Hwado-eup. Provided by Namyangju City

Director Kim Kyung-don stated, “The March 1st Movement was an event that showed the unity of the nation, where the entire people came together under foreign oppression and sacrificed their lives for the independence of the homeland,” and added, “We must honor the spirit of sacrifice of these ancestors, inherit the spirit of the March 1st Movement, and realize its value for a better future.”

The Namyangju Cultural Center has held the March 1st Movement commemorative ceremony together with Wolsan Church since 1989 and has reenacted the torchlight parade annually along with the ceremony since 1999.

Meanwhile, this event was hosted and organized by Namyangju City and the Namyangju Cultural Center, with support from the Northern Gyeonggi Veterans Office, Wolsan Church, Namyangju Saemaul Association, and the Army 1045th Unit.

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