평안남도 강서지역 3·1운동의 전개와 참여자 분석

Abstract

This article examines the March First Movement that took place in the Gangseo region of Pyoungannamdo Province. During the period of the Daehan Empire, the Gangseo-gun consolidated three regions of Jeungsan- gun, Hamjong-gun, and Gangseo-gun. It was a transportation hub that was adjacent to Pyoungyang to the north and Jinnampo to the south. In this region, patriotic movements flourished from the early period of the Daehan Empire, and with the arrival of Christianity and Donghak movement, firm foundations for collective movements were in place by the time of the March First Movement. On the day of the movement, a Cheongyodo follower delivered the March First Independence Declaration to the Gangseo region, and triggered by a Christian on the following day, independence movement erupted everyday until March 9, and demonstrations lasted until mid-June. Among many demonstrations, three attracted a particularly large number of participants: 4,000 for a demonstration in Gangseo-myeon on March 3, 5,000 for a demonstration at Sacheon Market in Banseok-myeon on March 4, and 2,000 for a demonstration in Hamjong-myeon on March 6. According to Japanese documents on Korean prisoners, including the court ruling and ‘Shinbunjangjimunwonji’, identity could be confirmed for a total of 76 prisoners who participated in the March First Movement and subsequently arrested. Among them, age could be specified for 74 people. Thirty people were in their 20s(40.5%), 24 in their 30s(32.4%), 12 in their 40s(16.2%), six in their 50s(8.1%), and two in their 60s(2.7%). That is, people in their 20s represented nearly half(40.5%), followed by people in their 30s(32.4%). Combined together, they represented 72%, indicating that the movement in the Gangseo region was led by young people in their 20s and 30s. Occupation could be specified for 71 imprisoned people, consisting of 51 farmers(71.8%), six businessmen(8.4%), two teachers(2.8%), three without jobs(4.2%), six Christians(8.4%), one student(1.4%), two doctors(2.8%), two district heads(2.8%), and one labor worker(1.4%). That is, farmers represented more than 70% of all imprisoned participants, followed by six businessmen. It is notable that there were no less than two district heads. A charge could be specified for 70 of the imprisoned people, and most were arrested for breaching the security law(66 people or 94.2%). What is peculiar is that many of them were arrested for more than one charge such as arson or murder, which was rare in other regions. Specifically, 14 people were charged for all of security law breach, sedition, arson, and murder(20%); 20 for all of these except for arson(28.5%). All of them participated in the demonstration that occurred at Sacheon Market in Banseok-myeon on March 4. Many of them received heavy punishment. Name of punishment and length of imprisonment could be confirmed for 70 imprisoned people. Four were sentenced to death(5.7%), five to life sentence(7.1%), ten were sentenced to 15 years of imprisonment(14.2%), one to ten years(1.4%), one to five years(1.4%), one to three years and six months(1.4%), three to two years(4.2%), four to one year(5.7%), two to ten months(2.8%), one to nine months(1.4%), one to eight months(1.4%), 16 to six months(22.8%), and 21 to 90 whipping(30%). That is, no less than 19 people were sentenced to death, life imprisonment or imprisonment of 15 years or longer(27.1%). Considering that it is rare to declare imprisonment of ten years or longer except in places where demonstrations were particularly violent, these records clearly show salient characteristics of the March First Movement that took place in the Gangseo region.