Unforgettable history of Donghak Peasants Movement in Jeonju.

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think about “Jeonla-do”? You might think ‘one of tourist attractions’ or ‘best food city’ first. Then, where is the place to enjoy both things in Jeonla-do? That is “Jeonju”! Jeonju is one of popular spots because of great foods and lots of spectacles. Again, Jeonju has many museums and historical places as well as delicious foods.

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Above all, where is the most meaningful place that has the biggest historical meaning? I want to point out ‘Donghak Peasants Revolution Memorial Hall’ Donghak Peasants Movement is also called Donghak Movement and Donghak Peasants Revolution. You definitely find out about Donghak Peasants Movement in history textbooks, so there is no one who do not learn about Donghak Peasants Movement. Then, let’s look into what is Donghak Peasants Movement in detail.

A riot that occurred in Gobu-gun, Jeonla-do caused of Donghak Peasants Movement. It was Gobu riot. Because of Jo Byung-gab’s tyranny who was a governor of Gobu Jeonla-do, peasants attacked the government office, kicked him out, and punished other officials under the leadership of him. Also, they broke the army of Jeonla government, and destroyed Manseokbo which is an irrigation reservoir and a symbol of Jo Byung-gab’s tyranny.

▲Now, Manseokbo remains only the traces so we built the monument in 1973 to remember Donghak Peasants Movement.

What’s more, they shared grains to the peasants and demanded for the government to remedy despotism of Jo Byung Gab. As a result, army of peasants guaranteed the appointment that remedy the despotism and dispersed in 10 days. However, anheaksa (provisional position in order to treat local incident in the late Joseon Dynasty), Lee Yong Tae who inspected Gobu riot, oppressed people who were involved in the riot. This would come to crucial cause for Donghak Peasants Movement.

Below picture is the Monument for Donghak Peasants Revolution located in Jeonbook Jeongeup-si Deokcheon-myeon Donghak-ro 742 (Hahak-ri). Peasants with Jeon Bong-Jun were oppressed by officials who were dispatched from the government and they fought with government army in Hangtohyun. The army of peasants won a big victory in the battle of Hangtohyun. However, this movement ended in the defeat of Ugeumchi battle against the army with Japanese. If we see only the result, Donghak Peasants Movement is a failure movement, but now, when we look back to that day, Donghak Peasants Movement had many meanings. Donghak Peasants Movement became a root of troop resistance opposing Japanese oppression by propagating anti-feudalism, anti-foreign and independence. Furthermore, it was the basis of the March First Movement and an army for national independence.

▲A Monument of Donghak Peasants Revolution Monument[source-Korea Open Government License, KOGL]

Don’t you think that we can enjoy the freedom and equality right now because of the ancestor who tried to change unfair, irrational corruptions?

*This statement is the opinion of press corps, and it could be different from the The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History's intention of.