The Second Independence

The First Independence

Our territory, culture, language, and national spirit
There was a time when all of these were taken away from us.

Korea’s Tragic History
The Japanese Occupation Period (1910~1945)

On March 1, 1919, the March First Movement took place against Japanese colonial rule.
Millions of Koreans went to the streets to shout “Hooray for Korea’s Independence!”

“The people’s shouting for independence shook the heavens and the earth. Tens of thousands of students gathered at Pagoda Park and cried out “Hooray for Korea’s Independence”. They swept through the town like a huge wave. Who could resist tearing up at such a moment?”
- The Independent (newspaper)

Korean freedom fighters recognized the need for a government to lead the independence movements.

Some Korean patriots broke through the Japanese surveillance, and established the Korean Provisional Government (KPG) in Shanghai, China, on April 11, 1919.

The government organized an independence army to work for the diplomatic mission. 

Young Korean patriots went across the world to promote the legitimacy of Korea’s independence.

On August 15, 1945, Korea was liberated from Japanese colonial rule. 

It was the independence (Gwangbok in Korean) all Koreans had dreamed of for so long.

Gwangbok (independence): literally means to recover the light of the country.

For independence, young Koreans risked their lives to inform the world of Korea’s situation.

The day of independence finally came after Koreans’ tireless effort and sacrifice.

It was Korea’s first independence.

The Second Independence

Even before Koreans were able to celebrate the joy of independence, Korea faced another tragedy.

The ideological tension of the Cold War hit the Korean peninsula.

After Japan’s surrender, the peninsula was divided along the 38th parallel. 

The south was occupied by U.S. forces, and the north was occupied by Soviet forces.

The south established the Republic of Korea (ROK).

The north established the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The ideological conflict divided everything, including the government, the people, and the territory.

Only five years after independence, Korea faced yet another tragedy on June 25, 1950. 

It was the outbreak of the Korean War, the worst tragedy in Korean history.

The Korean War was a fratricidal war where Koreans pointed guns at each other.

The Korean peninsula was turned into ruins.

Number of war widows: 200 thousand
Number of war orphans: 100 thousand
Number of separated families: 10 million

About 45% of industrial facilities were destroyed.

Over 2.5 million Koreans were killed.

On July 27, 1953, the armistice agreement was finally signed.

Korea has since been left in ‘the state of armistice’, not ‘the end of the war’.

“It will take them 100 years to recover from the devastation.”
- U.S. General Douglas MacArthur

“After 36 years of Japanese colonization, ideological conflict, and now a war, I think there is more of a chance of a rose blooming out of a trash heap, than this country being able to stand on its own.” – A British newspaper

However, in a half century, Korea proved all these pessimistic expectations wrong.

Korea overcame the limitations of being the last divided country on earth.

In only 60 years after the devastation, Korea’s GDP exceeded $1 trillion.

Korea is the only country to have transformed from ‘a beneficiary’ to ‘a donor’ since the founding of the OECD.

Korea proved itself as a country of miracles.

However, the international image of Korea is quite different.
It is more known as ‘the last divided country on earth’ than the land of miracles.

March 26, 2010: The sinking of the South Korean warship Cheonan

November 23, 2010: The shelling of the Yeonpyeongdo Island by North Korea

December 19, 2011: The death of North Korean leader, Kim Jong-il

The situation of the Korean peninsula in foreign media reports
‘Instability, uncertainty, and ongoing crisis’

Foreign media reports of Korea often focus on ‘conflict’ and ‘North Korea’

The last divided country on earth
The war-prone country 

Despite hardships, Koreans promoted their situation under Japanese colonial rule to the world.

From the devastation of the war, Koreans achieved an economic miracle.

Koreans have learned from the examples of their ancestors.

Today, young Koreans are pursuing the second independence of Korea.

Sensational foreign media reports about Korea have influenced the world to see Korea from negative perspectives.

Korea’s second independence will be freedom from such biased perspectives of Korea.

We want to erase the image of Korea as ‘a divided and war-prone country’.

Instead, we want to show Korea as the country of miracle that has overcome such challenges.

To achieve this goal, young Koreans have already taken action. 

The future of Korea depends on young Koreans.

We want Korea to be a country that offers helping hands to countries in need.

Korea has managed the obstacle of being divided.

We want Korea to be a country that will unite people’s hearts beyond geographical unification.   

We want Korea to be a country that is admired by global leaders across the world.

We want to show the new Korea to the world.

Korea is a country of hope.

VANK will continue to correct biased perspectives of Korea. 

With young Koreans, we will make a new and better future for Korea.

Korea has been in the middle of the tension between countries of interest, including America, China, Japan, and Russia.

The strong tension could affect the Korean peninsula.

However, we Koreans will again prove our ability to maintain peaceful coexistence. 

With your support, we will achieve our second independence and peace in Asia.