Amid the growth of imperialism in the early 19th century, East Asia saw Japan forcibly annex the Korean Empire.

To regain their sovereignty,
Koreans started the March FirstIndependence Movement in 1919, an event that led to the formation of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea.

We wish to share and commemorate with everyone in the world the spirit embedded in both the movementand the provisional government, which championed the universal human principles of nonviolence and peace.