Title
Recognizing, commemorating, and celebrating the Centennial Anniversary of the Historic First Korean Congress held in Philadelphia from April 14 to April 16, 1919.
Body
WHEREAS, On March 1, 1919, thirty-three core Korean-Independence activists signed the Korean Declaration of Independence from Imperial Japan in the Korean capital city of Seoul. The public reading of the Declaration on that same day ignited non-violent protests throughout the country. By the time the movement was suppressed by the Japanese 12 months later, approximately 2,000,000 Koreans had participated in the more than 1,500 demonstrations. The struggle killed 7,000 people, and wounded an additional 16,000 people. This massive public resistance came to be called the March First Movement; and
WHEREAS, Although the March First Movement did not result in an immediate liberation of Korea, it became the catalyst for the Korean national independence movement, joined by Koreans living abroad, including the United States. It also inspired other countries in Asia, particularly China and India, to participate in the cause for the right of a people to self-determination; and
WHEREAS, Philip Jaisohn, a Korean political refugee who made his home in Media, PA, made Philadelphia a central overseas base for supporting Korean independence. Inspired by the First and Second Continental Congress of the United States held in Philadelphia, Philip Jaisohn, Syngman Rhee, who became the first Korean President of the Republic of Korea, and Han Kyong Jung organized The First Korean Congress in Philadelphia at the Little Theatre located on 17th and Delancey Streets from April 14 to April 16, 1919. A delegation of 150 Korean representatives and Americans participated in the First Korean Congress and on the last day, with the support from the City of Philadelphia, they marched in solidarity from the Little Theatre to Independence Hall, where the Korean Declaration of Independence was once again proclaimed to the worl...
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