Korea and Bulgaria’s walks to freedom
Every single year, March marks the beginning of spring. It symbolizes time for a change. However, in some countries, such as Bulgaria and Korea, the month reminds people of their homeland’s bitter past and struggle for freedom. Surprisingly, the two countries share a striking similarity in their historic background. Year after year on March 1 Korea celebrates the March First Movement, whereas on March 3 Bulgaria commemorates its Liberation Day.
In the first half of the 20th century, Korea fell under Japanese colonial rule. It started with the signing of the Japan–Korea annexation treaty in 1910. Japanese rule over Korea (1910-1945) lasted for a period of 35 years. To this very day, it's a painful memory for the country and its people.
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| Eighteen year old Yu Gwan-sun (middle) gave her life for Korea’s freedom. |
One of the most notable events that helped the Korean people regain their desire to fight against the Japanese oppressors was the March First Movement in 1919, also known as the Samil Movement or Manse Demonstrations. It happened during a period of military enforcement, from 1910 to 1919. At the time, Japanese military forces ruled Korea with aggression and brutality. Imperial Japan was in control of the law and media, as well as most high-ranking governmental positions.
No longer able to tolerate the state of their beloved homeland, a group of 33 Korean social and religious leaders drew up a “Proclamation of Korean Independence,” inspired by U.S. President Wilson’s “Declaration of the Principle of Self Determination.” On March 1 1919, the 33 leaders gathered in the Taehwagwan restaurant in Seoul and signed the document. After that, they sent a copy of it to the second Japanese Governor General of Korea, Hasegawa Yoshimichi (하세가와 요시미치, 長谷川好道) (1850-1924), thus letting Japan know of the Korean people’s desire for freedom. On that very same date, Korean supporters started spreading the news throughout the country, which resulted in mass demonstrations.
Over the next 12 months, more than 2 million people of all ages participated in the peaceful demonstrations. In order to suppress the Korean protesters from shouting, “Manse,” meaning, “Long live Korea!” on the streets, the Japanese ended up using force, which resulted in about 7,500 people killed, over 15,000 wounded and 46,000 arrested.
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| The Seodaemun Prison History Museum keeps alive the stories of the Korean victims of the March First Movement. |
Today, in order to commemorate the lost lives of their brave predecessors, the Korean nation celebrates the March First Movement as a national holiday. It was designated as such in 1949.
Over 8,000 km to the west and a little bit over 40 years before the March First Movement, Bulgaria started its blood-stained journey to freedom. The country suffered almost 500 years under the oppression of the Ottoman Empire, starting in 1396 with the end of the Second Bulgarian Tsardom (1185-1396), up to March 3, 1878. Bulgaria acquired its long-awaited liberation after the Russo-Turkish War (1877-1878), during which five countries fought against the Ottoman Empire. Those countries were the Russian Empire, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro.
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| The Bulgarian national flag flies today. |
The Russo-Turkish War began in April 1877. After crossing Romania and the Danube River, the Russian army, led by Emperor Alexander II himself, entered Bulgarian territory and split his army, heading in different directions. Part of the Russian army headed to the Bulgarian town of Pleven. Thus began the Siege of Pleven. Osman Pasha, an Ottoman field marshal, received orders to defend the city against the incoming Russians. The siege continued for months. Meanwhile, Suleiman Pasha, chief commander of Ottoman military operations, made an attempt to reach and help Osman Pasha with 30,000 troops. To do that, Suleiman Pasha had to cross the Balkan Mountains, but was eventually stopped by the Russian army and Bulgarian volunteers at the Battle of Shipka Pass. After three days of fighting in August 1877, the Bulgarian volunteers, known as opalchentsi, were supported by a Russian force led by General Radezky. Thanks to their bravery and self-sacrifice, Suleiman Pasha was not able to reach the town of Pleven, which later led to Osman Pasha’s surrender and Russia’s victory. Several battles took place at the Shipka Pass during the Russo-Turkish war, making it one of the most important places in the story of Bulgarian independence.
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| Every March 3, the Bulgarian people attend an official ceremony on top of Shipka Peak (1326 m). |
Up to this very day, Shipka Pass and the Shipka Memorial -- a monument built on Shipka Peak near the pass in remembrance of those who died for the independence of Bulgaria -- are dear to the Bulgarian people’s hearts. The date of March 3, 1888, officially became Bulgaria’s Liberation Day, as well as a national holiday. Every year, people of all ages climb the 15 km to the Shipka Memorial at the summit of the pass to attend the ceremonial, hoisting the Bulgarian flag, as well as offering flowers of gratitude to all the brave people who gave their lives for the freedom of their beloved country, Bulgaria.
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| Bulgarian army personnel offer flowers of gratitude to the heroes of the Russo-Turkish War. |
I would like to end this article with an excerpt from the Bulgarian poem “The Volunteers at Shipka.” It's written by Ivan Vazov (1850-1921), a Bulgarian poet, novelist and playwright, often referred to as the “patriarch of Bulgarian literature.”
Readers can read the full translated poem here:
The Volunteers At Shipka
(Aug. 11, 1877)
O, Shipka!
For three days out youthful battalions
The pass have defended. The high mountain valleys
Re-echo the battle's tumultuous roar.
The onslaught's ferocious! Again the dense hordes
Along the ravine for the twelfth time are crawling
Where warm blood is flowing and bodies are sprawling.
Assault on assault! Swarm on swarm they advance!
Once more at the towering peak Suleiman
is pointing: "Rush forward! Up there are the rayahs!"
Away race the hordes in a rage wild and dire,
A thunderous "Allah" re-echoes afar.
The summit replies with a rousing "Hurrah!"
By Bojana Doneva
Korea.net Honorary Reporter
Photos: Bojana Doneva, Mannamkorean, https://blog.trazy.com
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