!@#… 삼일절 기념 특별 서비스 포스팅. 저널리즘을 “역사의 초안”이라고 부르곤 하는데, 그런 의미에서 삼일절이라는 역사에 대한 당시 미국의 ‘초안’은 어떻게 생겨먹었던 것인지 한번 궁금해서 찾아봤다. 전체 아카이브를 무료 공개해줘서 고마워, 뉴욕타임즈. 게다가 저작권 시효까지 만료, 완전한 공공 개방까지 해줬구나. 자고로 대인배 언론이라면 그래야지. 전체적 감상은… 뭐 관계 없는 “제3세계”에 대한 보도가 다 그렇지 뭐. 그나마 팩트라도 이만큼 보도해준 것이 어딘가. 하지만 역시 읽어볼수록, 한국의 독립운동은 세계로 하여금 관심을 가지도록 하는 담론 전략에 무척 처절하게 실패하고 있었음을 알 수 있기도 하다. 여튼 잠시 시간여행, 1919년 3월 12일 뉴욕의 어떤 거리를 걷는 무려 국제 뉴스의 구석탱이 기사까지도 읽어보는 어떤 꼼꼼한 아저씨의 시선으로 들어가보자. 번역은 귀찮아서 생략.

KOREANS DECLARE FOR INDEPENDENCE
Thousands Who Engage in Demonstration Are Arrested by the Japanese.
Special Cable to THE NEW YORK TIMES.

PEKING, March 12. Information has reached here that the Korean independence demonstrations were more general than has been officially admitted Japanese of all classes in every part of the country came within the scope of the movement.
The Japanese expected trouble to occur on March 3 on the occasion of the funeral of Prince Yi and called a large number of gendarmerie from the outlying stations into Seoul. The Korean Natlonalists, knowing this, staged their independence day–for 3 1, when every town and village in the country had its own parade and demonstration in favor of Korean independence.
The Japanese were unprepared. However, their authority regained its equilibrium and struck hard and quickly, thousands of demonstrators being arrested, though the Japanese reports speak of hundreds. The gendarmes arrested a number of students of the PingYang Presbyterian Theological School, who were not connected with the movement, stripped them, and tied them to rough, wooden crosses, exclaiming that as their Father had borne the cross they, too, should have the privilege of bearing it.
At present the Japanese seem to have the Korean Independence movement under control, but underneath the surface the whole country is seething. The Korean nation will accept only one solution. It is hoped that Japan, at the Paris conference, will offer Korea independence subject to Japan’s advisory control until such time as the League of Nations deems the Koreans fit for absolute self-government.

SEOUL, March 12, (Associated Press.) The declaration of Korea’s independence says that it represents the voice of 20,000.000 persons, speaking in the name of justice and humanity.
“We are no mean people,” the declaration continues. “We have fortythree centuries of history as a distinct self-governing nation. It is our solemn duty to secure the right of free and perpetual development of our own national character, adapting ourselves to the principles of the reconstruction of the world.”
The declaration continues that it is the duty of Koreans to obtain their independence, to wipe out injuries, get rid of our present sufferings and stir up the national spirit and vitality, so long suppressed by the unjust regime of Japan, and lease our children eternal freedom instead of bitter and shameful inheritance. We shall fight to the last drop of blood in the great cause of liberty.”
It is asserted that there is no intention on the part of the Koreans to avenge themselves against Japan, that their only desire is to right the wrongs done not by the Japanese nation but by the of her statesmen, led by the old aggressive policy.

!@#… 좀 더 매니악한 사람들을 위한 PDF 버전은 여기. 여튼 뭐, 다들 뜻 깊은 삼일절이 되시기를.

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