Page 54 - NAKS MAC 2026 EBook

2026년 독립기념 ‘코리아 리뷰’ 에세이

Haein Hwang

What is patriotism? By the dictionary definition, patriotism means the love, devotion,
and loyal support of one's own country. If you look closely at history, patriotism changes
significantly from generation to generation. In the past, being a patriot meant you were
ready
to die for your nation, and it was all about the survival of the group. However, today, young
people look at patriotism from a different perspective. They care more about human rights,
global culture, and speaking up against injustice. This essay will compare and contrast how
patriotism developed in two different countries: the United States of America and the
Republic of Korea. By looking at history, like the American Revolutionary War and Korea’s
March First Movement, and comparing these historical examples with patriotism in 2026, we
can find out the similarities and the differences.
Have you ever heard of the phrase: “No taxation without representation”? Long ago,
American patriotism emerged during a major rebellion. Before the United States became a
country, it was just a group of thirteen colonies ruled by Great Britain. The British
government made the colonists pay heavy taxes on everyday items like tea and paper. The
colonists thought this was incredibly unfair because they had no representatives in the
British Parliament. When the American Revolutionary War broke out in 1775, people like
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson inspired colonists to fight for abstract concepts
like liberty, democracy, and equality. The American Revolution was inspired by ideas of
liberty, political representation, and natural rights, although these ideals were not equally
applied to everyone at the time. The Declaration of Independence was a huge act of
patriotism. For early Americans, loving your country did not mean loving a piece of land or a
single king. It meant believing in the idea that all people are created equal and have the right
to be free. However, this ideal was not fully reflected in American society, where slavery
existed and political rights were limited for many people. Soldiers were willing to leave their
farms and families to fight the British army because they wanted to build a brand-new
society based on these principles of fairness.
On March 1st, the streets of Korea were filled with voices shouting “대한 독립 만세!”
which means “Long live Korean independence.” Peaceful protestors gathered all over the
country to read a declaration of independence. Historical patriotism in South Korea
developed in a very different way from that of America. Korea did not start as a colony
fighting for a new system; instead, it was an ancient country that suddenly lost its freedom.
In 1910, Japan colonized Korea and began a harsh military rule. The Japanese government
tried to take away Korean culture, land, and even the language. Because of this extreme
danger, Korean patriotism became focused on survival and national independence. The best
example of this is the March First Movement of 1919. In response to this movement,the
Japanese police responded with terrible violence, arresting and killing thousands of
innocent
people, including young students like 유관순. The movement was not only about ethnic
unity. The March First Declaration also emphasized freedom, justice, and the right of
Koreans to determine their own future. For Korean patriots at the time, love for the country
was tied to a strong sense of national identity and the desire to restore Korean
independence. Patriotism often required individuals to put the interests of the nation above
their personal interests. Koreans felt they had to sacrifice absolutely everything, because if
their country disappeared, their identity as a people and their political independence would
disappear too.
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