Today is the March 1st Movement which is a public holiday in South Korea. The Official name is the Samil movement (삼일 운동). It is also known as the Manse Demonstrations.
The day is named after an event which happened on March 1, 1919. Koreans wanted to be free from Japanese rule after hearing a speech by Woodrow Wilson.
33 people started the movement. They met at a restaurant in Seoul to prevent a riot. They read the Korean Declaration of Independence written by Choe Nam-Seon. They all signed the declaration and sent it to the Japanese Governer-General of Korea. They called the police to tell them of their actions and they were arrested.
Crowds gathered in Tapgol Park (Pagoda Park) to hear a student read the declaration. Protests broke out demanding freedom from the Japanese.
Japanese police used force to end the movement. They did horrible things to the Koreans. In one of the most famous incidents they took Koreans to a church where they locked it and set it on fire. Those who were arrested were taken to Seodaemun Prison where they were tortured or executed.
My Visit to Seodaemun Prison: http://valeriebethinsouthkorea.blogspot.com/2009/03/day-80-seodaemun-prison.html
Here is a video that describes the March 1st Movement:
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