항거: 유관순 이야기 | A Resistance
개봉 Released
감독 Directed by
역사배경 History
주연 Cast
2019.02.27
조민호 Cho Min-ho
3.1운동 March 1st Movement
고아성 Go Ah-sung
김새벽 Kim Sae-byuk
김예은 Kim Ye-eun
정하담 Jeong Ha-dam
류경수 Ryu Kyung-soo
A Resistance follows Yu Gwan-sun, a 17 year-old student who is imprisoned for leading protests against the Japanese during the Japanese colonial rule of Korea. Imprisonment and torture, however, does not deter her love for and fight for her country’s independence.
Japan formally colonizes Korea with the Japan-Korea Treaty of 1910. This is also known as the beginning of the Japanese occupation in Korea.
Japanization of Korea began, from the manipulation of Korean culture to banning the use of Korean names and the Korean language altogether.
The cutural genocide and extremely poor living conditions led to the
Korean
Independence
Movement
Yu Gwan-sun, who was a student at Ewha Hakdang (now known as Ewha Womans University), witnessed the beginnings of the Independence Movement in March 1919 and took part in it.
In response to the thousands of protests and marches in Seoul, all schools were ordered to close on March 10, which prompted Yu to return to her hometown of Cheonan.
There, she spread the word of the independence movement in Seoul, planning and leading a demonstration of her own. It took place on April 1 with 3,000 people chanting “대한독립만세”, which means “Long live the independent Korea”.
The Japanese military police arrived and responded by firing on the protesters, killing 19 people including Yu’s parents. She was arrested and sent to Seodaemun Prison in Seoul.
Through the depiction of Yu’s time in prison, A Resistance brings to attention the inhumane conditions and treatment that the prisoners suffered under the Japanese. At the same time, the film highlights the Korean people’s desire for freedom and how the courage of just one person can inspire hope in so many more.
The prison is open to visitors as Seodaemun Prison History Hall, where visitors can observe the prison conditions first-hand and learn more about the history through the exhibitions.
Today, Yu Gwan-sun is one of the most famous activists and a symbol for Korean independence.
Being one of the earliest and largest movements, the independence movement served as a catalyst for future independence activities.
March 1st is celebrated as a national holiday in Korea.
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