What do bamboo spears and light sticks have in common?In Korea, they both defend democracy.In this episode, we trace Korea’s radical idea that “the people own this land”—not just as political theory, but as a lived, historical truth. From communal rice paddies of 5,000 years ago to modern candlelight protests, we uncover the origins of Korea’s unique civic instinct.You’ll discover:🌾 How ancient Korean communities believed land was sacred and shared🧑‍🌾 Why peasants in 1894 took up bamboo spears to defend the nation when the rulers failed🙏 How Donghak (“Eastern Learning”) evolved into Cheondogyo, a spiritual force behind Korea’s independence movement📜 How 15 of the 33 March 1st Declaration signers were Cheondogyo followers—and what that really meant🇰🇷 Why Article 1 of the Korean Constitution echoes the cries of Ugeumchi and the March 1st movement🔥 How this legacy still shapes modern resistance—from the candlelight revolution of 2017 to the protests of 2024–25This isn’t just a history lesson—it’s the moral and emotional backbone of Korea’s democracy. It explains why Koreans won’t stay silent when injustice threatens their land, their dignity, or their people.Part 6 of The People’s Mandate: Korea’s Democratic Edge, a special miniseries within Growing Up in Korea, this episode will change the way you understand political resistance—not as rebellion, but as memory.🎙️ Audio generated with Google NotebookLM📚 Part 16 of the Growing Up in Korea series🔗 Read the full article here Get full access to Understanding Korea, One Story at a Time at yoonjiwon.substack.com/subscribe

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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