On the brisk morning of February 28, 2026, the city of Seoul was a tapestry of flags and voices, as communities across South Korea prepared to honor the 107th anniversary of the March 1st Movement. This day, known as Samiljeol, marks a pivotal chapter in Korea’s struggle for independence from Japanese colonial rule. While the movement began over a century ago, its echoes are felt powerfully in the present—through ceremonies, campaigns, and even heated political demonstrations that reveal the many ways Koreans continue to interpret and celebrate their hard-won freedoms.
In Seoul’s Songpa district, the local council made sure the commemoration was nothing short of grand. According to eNews Today, the Songpa-gu Council, led by Chair Lee Hye-sook, gathered at Garak Intersection for the ‘107th Anniversary of the March 1st Movement Giant Taegeukgi Flag Raising Ceremony.’ At precisely 10:00 AM, the event opened with the district's boys and girls choir performing the stirring ‘March 1st Movement Song’—a melody that, for many, still carries the weight of history. As the 52nd Infantry Division’s military band played, the tallest Taegeukgi flag in Seoul was hoisted skyward, creating a spectacle that drew awe from attendees.
The ceremony was far from just a formal affair. Students from Hallim Arts High School took to the stage with a dynamic flag performance, infusing youthful energy into the proceedings. The event concluded with a unifying cry as everyone present shouted, “Long live the Republic of Korea!”—a powerful recreation of the passionate cheers that filled the streets 107 years ago. Chair Lee Hye-sook, in her congratulatory speech, expressed deep gratitude to the organizers and local groups, stating, “It is thanks to the noble sacrifices of our ancestors 107 years ago that today’s Republic of Korea and Songpa exist. We will do our utmost to ensure that our descendants feel pride in Songpa by carrying on their noble spirit.”
But the spirit of remembrance wasn’t confined to Songpa. In Seosan City, the Climate Environment Air Department launched a three-day campaign starting February 27, attaching Taegeukgi flags to 21 official vehicles and driving them around town. The campaign, Joongdo Ilbo reports, was designed to gently remind citizens of the flag’s significance and encourage voluntary participation. Employees also posted photos online to promote the campaign and planned to continue urging residents to join the ‘Taegeukgi Hanging Movement’ throughout the anniversary.
“We hope this campaign helps citizens remember the historical meaning of March 1st and practice patriotism in their daily lives,” a department official told Joongdo Ilbo. Residents were advised on the proper way to display the flag, with guidance drawn from the Korean National Flag Act: flags should be hung from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM on March 1st, but 24-hour display is also permitted. Seosan City’s broader goal is to foster patriotism and community spirit through ongoing activities marking the anniversary.
The city of Chuncheon, meanwhile, took a different approach—turning the event into a true community affair. As reported by Gangwon Ilbo, Chuncheon launched a ‘Citywide Taegeukgi Flag Raising Campaign’ on February 28, focusing on citizen and institutional participation rather than just government-led events. The city expanded projects such as apartment relay plaque ceremonies, flag-raising streets, and flag distribution activities. Local veterans groups and flag-raising associations pitched in to boost involvement, and sales stands for home-use flags were set up at administrative centers and large local marts, making it easier than ever for residents to participate.
Examples of grassroots engagement were everywhere: in Hu-pyung 3-dong, seven community leaders even purchased flags at their own expense to distribute to neighbors for free. Other districts created flag-raising streets and installed Taegeukgi windmills, while banners and creative installations popped up in public spaces. Chuncheon set an ambitious goal—to achieve a 50% flag-raising rate for March 1st this year—and city officials urged citizens to take part, saying, “A community of consideration and respect in Chuncheon starts with raising the Taegeukgi.”
Yet, the mood in Seoul’s downtown was far from uniformly festive. The anniversary also became a flashpoint for political expression, with progressive and conservative groups staging rival rallies on February 28. According to Munhwa Ilbo, the progressive civic organization Candlelight Action gathered about 500 participants outside the Supreme Court in Seocho-gu, demanding the impeachment of Supreme Court Chief Justice Cho Hee-dae. Chants of “Impeach Cho Hee-dae, the last bastion of rebellion!” filled the air, and group co-leader Kim Ji-sun declared, “Judges who couldn’t utter a word during the rebellion now speak about judicial reform. Let’s show them whose power they wield.” The group announced that 17 lawmakers had agreed to the impeachment as of the day before, with a public hearing scheduled for March 4.
Participants at the progressive rally also called for the suspension of joint South Korea-US military drills, referencing a recent tense encounter between US and Chinese fighter jets over the West Sea. The intersection of patriotic commemoration and current political demands was impossible to miss.
Not far away, conservative groups led by Pastor Jeon Kwang-hoon convened a much larger rally—about 10,000 strong—near Gwanghwamun, according to police estimates. Their demands centered on the release of former President Yoon Seok-yeol and Pastor Jeon himself, who is currently in custody. In an 18-page letter read aloud at the rally, Jeon urged supporters to invoke the constitutional “right to resist,” writing, “Your unity is the only hope to restore the judiciary and executive branches.” Later, about 1,000 members of hardline conservative groups marched through Jongno and Euljiro, chanting slogans like “Yoon Again” and “China Out,” though the day remained peaceful and free of clashes. The pro-Yoon Free University group also held a commemorative event and march, underscoring how the anniversary serves as a rallying point for diverse political causes.
Meanwhile, in Yongsan-gu’s Hyochang Park, citizens gathered at the Taegeukgi Flag Street, snapping photos and planning to share them on social media. As News1 noted, the way Koreans commemorate the March 1st Movement is shifting—more people now post images of the flag online rather than hanging it at home. The Seoul Metropolitan Library joined in, displaying a massive sign with the phrase, “We shouted for independence dreaming of spring,” featuring an image of independence activists waving the Taegeukgi amid fluttering petals. It’s a poetic reminder that while the means of remembrance may change, the spirit endures.
From solemn ceremonies and grassroots campaigns to raucous political rallies and digital tributes, the 107th anniversary of the March 1st Movement revealed a nation both united and divided—bound by history, yet alive with debate over what that history means today.