Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Atlanta

March 1, 1919, marked the beginning of the Korean Independence Movement .On this day, independence fighters announced Korea's declaration of independence from Japanese colonialism. In response, Japanese police and military forces killed and injured thousands of unarmed protestors.

With the official surrender of Japan to the Allied forces on August 15, 1945, the 35-year colonization of Korea by the Japanese came to an end. August 15, 1948 also marks the establishment of the Republic of Korea.

According to legend, the god-king Tan-gun founded the Joseon Kingdom in 2333 B.C. This day fills citizens with nationalistic pride over the 4,000+ year history of Korea.

It is an anniversary established to enhance the superiority of Hangul and cherish virtue and a great achievement of Sejong. It is every October 9. 'September, the 28th year of Sejong' recorded in the original copy of [the Korean script] can be converted into October 9 by the solar calendar. That is the reason that Hangul Proclamation Day is October 9. In November 4, the society for the research of Korean language(the former form of the institute of the Korean alphabet) established September 29 as 'Gagya day', and changed the name to 'the Hangul Proclamation Day' in 1928.