Historian reveals UPI first reported Korea's March 1 Movement two days earlier than believed

In South Korea, a significant event occurred during the March 1 Movement in 1919. This movement was a peaceful demonstration against Japanese colonial rule that had been in place since 1910. On March 1, a group of 33 Korean leaders publicly declared independence, igniting a wave of protests throughout the country. The narrative of when this pivotal moment was first reported in the United States has recently been called into question by historian Joo Sung-jee. Previously, it was believed that the first reports appeared on March 13, 1919. However, Joo’s research uncovered that articles were actually published starting on March 10, originating from United Press (UP), now known as UPI. This new information stemmed from Joo's analysis of regional newspapers that had only recently become digitally searchable, allowing him access to earlier reports that included one from UP titled "Korea to demand her independence." This article pointed out that the Declaration of Independence had been issued on March 1. On March 9, a telegraph from a Korean preacher in Shanghai relayed information regarding the movement to a Korean organization based in San Francisco, through which this information reached UP and other media outlets two days later. Joo's findings challenge the previously held belief that American journalist Albert Taylor was the first to report on the movement, as his article detailing the declaration was written after these earlier reports. Taylor’s connection to the independence movement is also noteworthy; although he worked for UP in Korea, his contributions to the reporting of the movement have not been adequately recognized in public exhibits, such as at the Seoul Museum of History, where his role as a correspondent for UP in 1919 is overlooked. The museum has indicated that it will consider updating its exhibits to reflect this information regarding Taylor's career and his significant role during this historical period.