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2026년 독립기념 ‘코리아 리뷰’ 에세이

Too Korean to Be American, Too American to Be Korean:

A Shared Spirit of Independence by Johanna Kang

While the United States and Republic of Korea gained independence centuries apart,
freedom was achieved through the same spirit of self-determination and shared democratic
values. 250 years ago, the Second Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence
to announce the nation’s official freedom from Great Britain; in the same way, the 3·1
독립선언서 was officially proclaimed in 1919 where Koreans announced the independence from
Japan. This shared spirit between the two nations helped shape my own identity as a second
generation Korean American (교포). Growing up, my non-Korean classmates used to make fun
of my small eyes and Korean lunches, but now, K-culture is internationally praised. Getting to
witness this transformation makes me proud to call myself a Korean American. However, I came
to the realization that the global perception upon South Korean culture was only possible because
of the shared spirit of independence and democratic values between the US and ROK which have
been achieved, preserved, and expanded into today’s US-ROK alliance.
The two countries pursued liberation through both civic mobilization and organized
resistance. The US adopted the Declaration of Independence during the American Revolution
and directly won over their freedom from Great Britain in 1776. During colonial times, the
British took advantage of the 13 colonies to gain profit. To protest, the colonists directed a major
event leading up to the American Revolution known as the Boston Tea Party, where they threw
imported tea into the Boston Harbor out of anger for an overpriced tax on tea. From this major
protest, the chant “No Taxation without Representation” began to arise and became a cause
towards greater revolt. The main values that colonists sought after were life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness. These values were eventually implemented into the US’s Declaration of
Independence and stands as a firm foundation for the nation to build upon. This gave citizens the
right to refuse tyrannical rule and chase after a better democracy, where everyone had a right to
say.
Similarly, Korea gained its independence through peaceful protests and also through the
surrender of Japan during World War II, which was the ultimate cause of Korea’s liberation. The
biggest step towards the nation’s liberation was through the March First Movement (삼일운동)
in which historical figures such as 유관순 organized a part of the movement. Even as a student
activist, she had the courage to hand out Korean flags (태극기) and peacefully protest through
chant “대한독립만세!” Though suppressed, the movement produced the first Korean
Declaration of Independence (3·1독립선언서) which was inspired by former US President
Woodrow Wilson’s 14 points. It was his promotion of national self-determination which inspired
the Korean people to fight.
The US and ROK preserved independence through national commemorations,
foundational documents, and education. The US specifically preserves its independence through
the celebration of 4th of July and also through US education. The celebration of the 4th of July,
also known as Independence Day, commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of
Independence which directly stated the US’s freedom from British control. The exact date was
July 4, 1776, exactly 250 years ago from 2026. Presently, American citizens celebrate the
holiday through parades and fireworks nationwide. Even now, patriotism is prominent through
the American flag. While the flag is a symbol for the entire nation, in educational institutions,
every student and teacher pledges allegiance to the flag by stating the Pledge of Allegiance. It
emphasizes the nation’s foundational principles like “liberty, and justice for all.”

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