107 Years Later, the Bell Rings Again: Ko Du-sim & Shin Hyun-joon Read the Declaration of Independence — 5 Meanings of Seoul's 107th March 1st Movement Bell Ceremony

Tomorrow, March 1st at 11:30 AM — the cries of 107 years ago ring out again. As Ko Du-sim and Shin Hyun-joon recite the Gimi Declaration of Independence, the bell of Bosingak becomes more than a ceremony — it becomes living history connecting generation to generation.

TL;DR

• Seoul City's 107th March 1st Movement Memorial Bell-Ringing Ceremony: March 1st at 11:30 AM, Bosingak, Jongno
• A total of 12 participants — including 9 descendants of independence activists — divided into 3 groups to ring the bell 33 times
• Honorary Seoul Mayor actors Ko Du-sim and Shin Hyun-joon recite the Gimi Declaration of Independence
• Participation of students from Junggang High School and Ewha Girls' High School highlights the significance of passing history to the younger generation
• The event draws added attention amid legislative discussions on renaming March 1st as 'Independence Declaration Day'

The Facts: What Is Happening

Seoul City will host the 107th March 1st Independence Movement Memorial Bell-Ringing Ceremony at Bosingak in Jongno-gu, Seoul on Sunday, March 1st at 11:30 AM. The theme is 'Cries of Independence, Together'.

The bell ringing will be performed by Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Seoul Metropolitan Council Speaker Choi Ho-jeong, Jongno-gu Mayor Jeong Mun-heon, and 9 descendants of independence activists — 12 participants in total — divided into 3 groups, each ringing the bell 11 times for a combined total of 33 rings. The number 33 symbolizes the 33 national representatives of the March 1st Movement.

The highlight of the ceremony is the recitation of the Gimi Declaration of Independence by Honorary Seoul Mayor actors Ko Du-sim and Shin Hyun-joon, timed to the bell ringing. Both actors were appointed as honorary mayors for their social contribution activities and take on the role of delivering the message of the yearning for independence to the general public.

Students from Junggang High School and Ewha Girls' High School will also participate in the ceremony, emphasizing the transmission of history to the younger generation.

The 9 Descendants of Independence Activists Participating in the Bell Ringing:

• Kim Sun-hee, child of Kim Sang-gwon (anti-Japanese struggle and imprisonment, 1919)
• Kwon O-cheol, grandchild of Kwon Gi-su (led Gangwon Manse Movement, 1919)
• Descendants of Kwon Jung-hyo, Kim Gyeong-yun, Kim Su-wan, Jang Hong-jin, Im Jae-hyeok, Ju Nam-su, and Han Do-ryeon

Why It's Getting More Attention Than Ever

This year's March 1st Movement anniversary is drawing extra attention as several social contexts overlap.

① In the aftermath of Yoon Suk-yeol's life sentence for insurrection — This March 1st comes just two days after the historically unprecedented life sentence handed to a former president (February 26th). With 'defending democracy and constitutionalism' at the forefront of national discourse, the meaning of the Declaration of Independence is further amplified.

② The discussion on renaming 'March 1st Movement Day' to 'Independence Declaration Day' — The ruling party is pushing legislation to officially rename the holiday. This ceremony takes place at the very heart of that debate.

③ The controversy over AI deepfake videos denigrating independence activists — In the lead-up to March 1st, videos using AI to mock figures such as independence activist Yu Gwan-sun spread widely, sparking public outrage. This ceremony, with actual descendants of independence activists participating in the bell ringing, stands in direct opposition — a 'living memory'.

④ The popularization of the Honorary Mayor system — The model of cultural figures like Ko Du-sim and Shin Hyun-joon officially participating in historic ceremonies as honorary mayors demonstrates how local governments and the cultural and arts community can jointly deliver public messages to civil society.

Context and Background: The History of the Bosingak Bell Ringing

Bosingak (普信閣) is an iconic Seoul landmark built in the 4th year of King Taejo of Joseon (1395). Through Japanese colonial rule, immediately after liberation, and into the modern era, this bell has rung at every significant historical moment.

The March 1st Movement began on March 1, 1919, when 33 national representatives announced the Declaration of Independence, sparking a nationwide Manse Movement in which more than 2 million people participated — Korea's greatest nonviolent independence movement. The movement led to the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea later that same year.

Outlook: 3 Future Meanings of This Ceremony

1. The Ritualization of Generational Connection — The structure of descendants of independence activists and current high school students participating together institutionalizes the 'transmission of memory.' This model is likely to be applied to more historical commemorations in the future.

2. The Intersection of Culture and Public Administration — Through the Honorary Mayor system, actors beloved by the public become the central figures of official historical ceremonies. This is a new public ritual model that increases accessibility to history and drives civic participation.

3. The Practical Meaning of the March 1st Renaming Debate — Amid the ongoing 'Independence Declaration Day' discussion, this ceremony makes tangible the sense that March 1st is not merely a public holiday but a 'living day' to be actively commemorated.

Checklist: Participation Guide for the Bosingak March 1st Ceremony

Reference Links

• Seoul City Official Announcement — 107th March 1st Movement Bell-Ringing Ceremony
• Yonhap News — 'Cries of Independence, Together': Seoul City 107th March 1st Movement Bell Ceremony
• Newsis — Honorary Seoul Mayor Ko Du-sim & Shin Hyun-joon to Recite Declaration of Independence on March 1st
• News1 — Seoul City: 9 Descendants of Independence Activists to Participate in March 1st Bosingak Bell Ringing

Image Credit

• Bosingak Bell Pavilion: Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain (Source)