Marching for Independence: Maria Kim

“I married Korean independence ”. This is what Kim Maria said when she was interviewed by a Japanese 

The Korean Peninsula, with a lasting history of more than 700,000 years, experienced its greatest suffering from 1910 to 1945 during the Japanese Colonial Period. Korean people suffered from relentless oppression to completely eradicate our identity. Japan tried to take our names, houses, government, kings, palace, and freedom. However, there were those who fought back against such inhumane governance: the Independence Activists. Even though there are so many activists who contributed to Korea’s independence, some female activists seem to receive little attention from the public. Among female activists, there is one name that should never be forgotten. It is Maria Kim (김마리아). 

Maria Kim was born on June 18th, 1892 in a Christian family. That was why she was named ‘Maria’, which is not a common name for a Korean. As she was exposed to Christianity, she could go to school built by missionaries and get a high-level education. After graduating, she went to Hiroshima and Tokyo to learn abroad. Then, in 1919, she returned back to Korea to help the independence movement. 

In 1919 February 8th, Korea had its Declaration of Independence.

Maria Kim contributed to this declaration by encouraging participation of female students in this movement. She even gathered money to support the students in Korea who are preparing for this event. Maria Kim, who was still in Japan, made 10 copies of this document, hid it in her clothes, and headed back to her home country. 

After that, Maria was arrested because of participating in another momentous independence movement on March 1st. Japanese police officers tortured and tormented her harshly that caused a serious health issue that led her to a hospital. After a while, she escaped through China in 1921, with the help of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. 

After the independence movement, she participated in the national convention that consisted of a lot of important figures for independence. People gathered there to discuss if the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea should be reformed or completely changed. Although Maria Kim insisted on a reform, both sides could not reach an agreement. Maria Kim had a huge shock looking at even our country cannot unite in the most dangerous situation. 

In 1923, Maria Kim went to the United States to finish her studies and have more influence on Korea’s independence movement. She went to Park University, University of Chicago and a theology school. There, she established Korean Patriotic Women's Association in America (재미 대한민국애국부인회) and became its leader. This organization tried to support the Korean-American community's movement to promote the great achievement of the liberation of the country. 

She returned to Korea in 1932, and passed away in 1944 due to aftereffects of the torture. 

To remember such a great Independence Activist, there is a ‘Kim Maria Street’ in Jongno 5, Seoul. There, you can find her old school, her church, her statue, her temporary house, and a small memorial museum. If you are interested to have a deeper look into her dedication and sacrifice to save her country, try visiting Kim Maria Street and reflect again on her life.

Works Cited

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공훈전자도서. “독립유공자 공적정보.” https://e-gonghun.mpva.go.kr/user/ContribuReportDetail.do?goTocode=20002&pageTitle=Merit&mngNo=12999. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.

우리역사. “3·1 운동에 앞장선 여성 독립운동가.” 김마리, https://contents.history.go.kr/mobile/kc/view.do?levelId=kc_n400280&code=kc_age_40. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.

박, 용욱. “김마리아 (金瑪利亞).” 일제강점기 때, 대한민국애국부인회 회장, 임시의정원 의원, 근화회 회장 등을 역임한 교육자 · 독립운동가., 한국민문화대백과사전, https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0009065. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.

박, 지은. “‘2·8독립선언서’ 영문 필사본 104년 만에 공개.” KBS, https://news.kbs.co.kr/news/pc/view/view.do?ncd=7615564. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.