Yu Gwan-Sun: The Teenage Flame of Korea’s Independence

Yu Gwan-Sun (1902 - 1920): Korean Independence Activist. There are many famous Independence activists you can think about, from a brave man who had thrown bombs to the Japanese emperor to a poet who had written tons of rebellious writings that convey the spirit of Jo-seon. However, the most tragic activist, I can say, was Yu Gwan Sun: a young teenage girl who should have attended school and played with her friends, rather recklessly held the flag of Korea and participated in protests. At an age of youth, she could not bloom, she became a bright star in the night sky.

Yu Gwan Sun was born on 16 December 1902, in Cheonan, Korea, during Japanese colonial rule. She was raised in a Christian family and attended Ewha Hakang in Seoul, where she was exposed to the Korean independence movement. On March 1, 1919, all over Korea protested against Japanese rule, Yu Gwan Sun, also actively participated in the protest of Seoul, however, the Japanese closed Ewha Hakdang and arrested students for being a participant.

Yu Gwan Sun did not give up, she returned to Aunae, Cheonan which is her home village, she organized and drove the independence rally on April 1, 1919, which was also in the lunar calendar, March 1st. In the course of this harmless protest, Japanese soldiers fired on demonstrators, killing Yu Gwan Sun’s parents and many others, she was arrested and beaten cruelly, then she was sent to the Seodaemun Prison and went through her trial.

Throughout her trial, Yu Gwan Sun refused to renounce her support of Korean independence and continued to urge resistance against Japan. At first, she was given 5 years, but after her friends and teacher of Ewha Hakdang argued for fair treatment, her imprisonment decreased to 3 years.

The Seodaemun prison, however, did not treat people fairly, many people were stuck in a room with small windows for ventilations and only one toilet, people were tortured severely and starved. However, she did not yield by rallying other prisoners to sing independence songs and slogans. She was punished with harsh beatings and put to a dark solitary cell for days, but she never gave up her determined spirit for independence and never let go of her human nature. For example, she used her own cloth to dry up baby's diapers to stop the baby from crying.

Unfortunately, Yu Gwan Sun died at the age of 17, in the Seodaemun prison on September 28, 1920, death caused by beating and torture. Yu Gwan Sun is now remembered as one of Korea’s greatest independence movement activists. There have been monuments, schools, and memorials in her honor, and her sacrifice remains a symbol of struggle for Korean freedom.

Works Cited

Park, HyunJong. Why? People 유관순. 예림당, 2018.