Gochang Mujang Donghak Peasant Revolution Uprising Site

About this place

The Donghak Peasant Revolution was a historic event in modern Korean history that was the first to demonstrate the will for social reform on a nationwide scale. The Gochang Mujang Gipoji (uprising gathering site) is a site of great significance as the birthplace of the Donghak Revolution — Korea's first civil rights movement. It is located in the Gusumaeul (Gusu Village) area to the left of National Highway No. 22 heading from Gochang toward Daesan-myeon. Note that Mujang is a place name, and Gipoji refers to the assembly site where the Donghak Peasant Revolution's proclamation was announced. Within this site, established to commemorate the true spirit of the Donghak Peasant Revolution, stands the training ground that was used for the revolutionary army, along with the 'Gabo Donghak Peasant Army Gochang Commander Commemorative Stele.' Three pine trees have also been symbolically planted to represent the three leaders who led the Gabo Donghak Peasant Revolution — Commander-in-Chief Jeon Bong-jun, General-Governor Kim Gae-nam, and General-Governor Son Hwa-jung — as well as the three counties that were consolidated into today's Gochang: Gochang-hyeon, Mujang-hyeon, and Heungdeok-hyeon. The Donghak Peasant Revolution memorial tower and sculptures that were previously installed at the original uprising site have been moved to the former Shinhwang Elementary School as part of the Gochang Donghak Peasant Revolution Sacred Site project, so a combined visit there is also meaningful.