[저널리즘] Commemorating Korean Independence Movement Day Amidst Challenges in University

The scenery of the undergraduate dormitory at Korean Independence Movement Day. No flags are hang.

 

March 1st marks Korean Independence Movement Day, a significant event in Korean history symbolizing the nation's struggle for freedom during the period of Japanese occupation. This non-violent movement holds immense importance as it saw participation from people of all ages, regions, and social backgrounds, united in their desire for Korean independence. The rallying cry of "Deahan-Doklip-Mansae!" echoed through the streets, embodying the principle of self-determination and declaring Korea's future by its own hands. Today, this day is enshrined as one of the 15 legally recognized holidays in Korea.

 

Traditionally, on national holidays, Koreans hang the national flag, Tae-geuk-gi, as a tribute to the ancestors who fought tirelessly to preserve their country. However, the absence of these flags in the undergraduate dormitory, including my own, underscores a concerning trend of diminishing remembrance of Korean history among the younger generation. In an era where individual freedoms and choices are highly prized, the politicization of national symbols like flags and patriotism has somewhat tarnished their significance.

 

Beyond the psychological factors, practical obstacles also hinder the display of national pride. In the undergraduate dormitory, the absence of flagpoles prevents residents from hanging the national flag, despite legal requirements mandating flagpoles in housing constructions.

 

Referencing Regulation on Standards for Housing Construction Article 18 (Balustrades) Paragraph 4, it is evident that the absence of flagpoles contravenes housing regulations.

Regulation on Standards for Housing Construction Article 18 (Balustrades) Paragraph 4

Despite this, appeals to the student dormitory association face challenges in garnering sufficient support from residents, particularly amidst budgetary constraints resulting from reductions in research and development funding.

 

While the act of displaying the national flag may seem symbolic, its essence lies in the collective remembrance and gratitude towards those who sacrificed their lives for the nation's cause. Thus, despite the lack of official means, I intend to hang the flag outside my dormitory window and reflect on the history this Memorial Day, a forthcoming national holiday.

 

Though the weight of tragic Korean history and the resilience of its people's movement may be difficult to carry every day, I propose that, at the very least, on national holidays, we pause to honor and remember them.

 

As we navigate the complexities of modernity, let us not forget the struggles and sacrifices that paved the way for our freedom and sovereignty.

 

English Draft

March 1st, Korean Indepence Movement Day is the hugest and non-violent independence movement during the period when Korea was under Japanese occupation. This day has particulary important meaning to Koreans because it is the symbol of Korean Indepence Movement in the aspect that people with almost every age, region, social statue backgrounds participated it. Back in the day, the ancestors gathered and screamed "Deahan-Doklip-Mansae"! which means the hope for Korean independence and declaration their nation's future by themselves. It was inspired by "principle of self-determination". The day is one of the 15 days of legally determined holidaies in Korea.

 

On every national holiday, people hang national flag, Tae-geuk-gi, for memorizing and celebrating the ancestors fighting to preserve the country, Korea. However, there is no flags hang in the undergraduate dormitory, even me also.

Sadly, it became vague more and more that the importance of memorizing the Korean history for the younger generation. Because getting freedom and the right to choose is more valued these days and the uses of national flags and patriotism as political methods hurted the image of the flags and the concept of patriotism.

 

But, there are more than these psychological reasons.

In the undergraduate dormitory there is no flagpole for hanging a flag. So, the students can't display the national flag even if they have one.

According to the law of housing, every house should have a flagpole. But for some unknown reasons, the undergraduate student's dormitory does not have the flagpoles.

Regulation on Standards for Housing Construction Article 18 (Balustrades) Paragraph 4

Requesting to the student dormitory association would not be the best option because the request doesn't seem to get enough agreements from the inhabitants. And the reduction of R&D budgets made the students' well-being budgets reduced so the limited money will make hard to accept this propose.

 

Yes, the action of display the national flag itself is not the purpose but the thought of memorizing and thanking to the people dead in the sake of the nation's future and neighborhood should be most prized.

So though it is not the official way hanging the national flag, I will put the flag out of my dorm's window and think again the history in the Memorial Day, which is comming national holiday.

 

It is hard to remember the tragedic Korean history and the powerful movement from the people everyday. However, I suggest at the very least, let's think of them thoroughly on the national holidays.

 

 

한글 초안

3.1절은 한국이 일제강점기 시절, 전국적으로, 한 달 이상 이어졌던 평화적인 독립운동을 기념하는 국경일입니다.

일 년에 15일 있는 법정 공휴일 중 하나입니다.

 

지정 국경일에는 국가를 위해 싸우다 돌아가신 선열과, 대한민국의 독립을 기념하기 위해 태극기를 게양합니다.

하지만, 3.1절 학사기숙사를 둘어보아도 태극기를 게양한 곳은 보이지 않습니다.

저도 삼일절에 국기를 게양하지 않았죠.

안타깝게도 젊은 세대들에게 태극기 게양이나 중요도가 많이 흐려진 것은 사실인 것 같습니다. 개인의 선택과 자유가 중요한 가치가 되고, 애국심이나 태극기가 정치적인 수단으로 사용되며 국기의 이미지가 많이 훼손되었습니다.

 

하지만, 이것만이 태극기를 걸기 어렵게 하는 이유는 아닙니다.

대학교 기숙사에는 구조상 태극기를 걸 수 있는 국기봉이 존재하지 않습니다.

태극기를 구매해도 걸 수 있는 곳이 없는 것이죠.

주택법 상, 구조 상 설치가 어려운 경우가 아니라면 필수적으로 설치하여야 하는데 기숙사가 주택에 해당되지 않는 것인지 대학교가 법률 제정 이전에 건설된 것인지는 알지 못합니다.

주택건설기준 등에 관한 규정, 18조(난간) 4항

 

국기봉을 기숙사를 각 세대마다 설치하자고 건의하기에도 학생들의 공감대가 부족하리라 예상됩니다.

 

태극기를 거는 것은 그 행위 자체보다 태극기를 걺으로써 나라를 지키다 순국하신 수많은 분들을 기리고 기억하는 마음이 더 중요할 것입니다.

공식적인 국기 게양 방법은 아니지만, 다음 국경일인 현충일에는 유리에 붙일 수 있는 태극기를 구매해 선열들을 기리고자 합니다.

 

매일 나라를 지키셨던 분들의 마음을 기억하고 되새기는 것은 어렵지만, 국경일만이라도 그 뜻을 기억하는 것은 어떨까요?