Donghak Peasant Revolution records exhibited in Gongju

A special exhibition titled 'Records of the Revolution Engraved in the World' is currently underway in Gongju, South Korea, commemorating the Donghak Peasant Revolution. Held at the former Gongju Town Office, the exhibition runs from September 1 to 27, offering a glimpse into a pivotal moment in Korean history.

The Donghak Peasant Army, formed to resist feudal society and foreign aggression in the late Joseon Dynasty, marched towards Hanyang (modern-day Seoul) in 1894. Their advance was halted at the strategic Ugeumchi Pass near Gongju, the site of the Chungcheong Provincial Government. Ultimately, they were defeated by government troops and the Japanese army, leading to the failure of the revolution.

This exhibition, occurring 132 years after the revolution's suppression, allows visitors to trace the footsteps of the Donghak Peasant Army and explore the significance of their records, which are now inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage. Among the 185 related World Heritage items, 35 have been selected for display, including key documents like the 'Sabal Tongmun' (a secret communication document) and 'Jeon Bong-jun Gongcho' (interrogation records of the leader Jeon Bong-jun).

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It is all the more meaningful that the records of the Donghak Peasant Revolution are visiting the old downtown of Gongju, the former site of the Chungcheong Provincial Government, beyond Ugeumchi, 132 years later.

Additionally, an interactive educational space called '1894 Memory Repository' has been set up within the exhibition. Here, visitors can take photos against backdrops of the 'Jipgangso' (autonomous reform bodies established by the Donghak Peasant Army) and a field of 'nokdukkot' (mung bean flowers, a symbol of the revolution). The space also features a hands-on zone with activities such as creating postcards and exploring a national map sticker of the Donghak Peasant Revolution records.

Shin Soon-cheol, Chairman of the Donghak Peasant Revolution Memorial Foundation, highlighted the exhibition's significance, stating, "It is all the more meaningful that the records of the Donghak Peasant Revolution are visiting the old downtown of Gongju, the former site of the Chungcheong Provincial Government, beyond Ugeumchi, 132 years later." He expressed hope that the exhibition would provide an opportunity for attendees to contemplate the universal human values embedded in these records and their relevance today. The exhibition is open to the public free of charge.

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I hope that this exhibition will provide an opportunity for us to think together about what meaning the universal human values contained in the records of the Donghak Peasant Revolution hold for us living today.