Page 68 - NAKS MAC 2026 EBook

2026년 독립기념 ‘코리아 리뷰’ 에세이

Sarang Kim

There are many freedoms we inherit without ever batting an eye about where they came
from. I, as an American, am able to wake up being able to speak my mind, learn about my
cultural heritage, imagine my future, and choose the person I want to become. It is easy to
forget and overlook that these freedoms are permanent. The biggest mistake that we all
make is neglecting the fact that independence is never simply given. It is carried, protected
and sacred. It is passed from one generation to the next.
2026, America celebrates 250 years of independence. In contrast, Korea celebrated the
81st anniversary of its liberation. These histories are different, but they share one powerful
truth: freedom is built by people who are willing to believe in something, even if that means
they may never live to see the results. Like the American Revolution created a nation based
on self-determination. Over a century later, Koreans fought to be able to determine their
own future and to live without foreign rule.
The Korean independence movement was not a political struggle. It was a declaration that
Korean identity, culture, and dignity could not be easily erased. On March 1, 1919, Koreans
participated in a movement demanding independence from Japanese colonial rule. The
movement also inspired Koreans living abroad to continue the fight in a different way.
One of those voices was Philip Jaisohn. In 1919, he founded and published the Korea
Review, an English-language publication created to tell American audiences about Korea
and its desire for independence. It was especially significant because Jaisohn understood
that the Korean cause needed to be heard beyond the home country. Through the Korea
Review, the Korean Information Bureau, and the First Korean Congress in Philadelphia, he
worked to inform Americans about the harsh realities of Japanese colonial rule, building
support for Korean independence. The effort did not immediately produce results, but it
contributed to strengthening Korean-American influence on American public opinion.
The motto of the Korea Review was “Truth enlightens the world.” Those words are just as
meaningful to me today as they were in 1919. With this truth it can affect generations and
borders. Jaisohn believed that if people understood Korea’s struggle, then it could no
longer be ignored. This same concept reminds me of the responsibility of a future
generation is not only to enjoy the freedoms, but to understand the sacrifices making them
possible.
For me, recognizing this starts with my grandma, great grandparents' struggle, and the
history of the Korean people.
If there had been no Korean independence movement, there would be no liberation.
Without liberation, my family’s story would have been completely different. My halmeoni
would have never become the astonishing woman that she is, and I would not be here
today with liberty to write these words. Without freedom I wouldn’t have the opportunities
to learn about my Korean heritage, my family’s history, or stand in this generation and talk
about what independence means to me.
These Korean words capture parts of this perfectly. 독립 (dongnip) meaning independence.
해방 (haebang) means liberation. 자유 (jayu) means freedom. And 만세 (Mansae) which is used
to celebrate victory and success. Together, they helped me further understand that Korean
independence was a spirit that refused to dissipate.
I often like to think about the activists who carried that same spirit when doing so came
with big risks. Standing up when others believed silence was easier. Protesting, writing,

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