History of Gaya Confederacy [A.D. 1 – 6th Century]
Gaya confederacy existed where currently Gimahae exists. Gaya confederacy existed in the period of, what is commonly referred to as the Three States Era, of which the three states referred to Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla, and Gaya is easily overlooked in the history. However, these three states were not the only states exists during that period of time. The name of Gaya should be recovered in that part of history in order to establish the correct ancient history of Korea. Yet, for Gaya could not replace the periodic name of the Three States Era, Gaya confederacy will remain as the periodic title of Gimhae region with our own independent historical view. Gaya confederacy refers to the period of time where various countries of Gaya were established and existed from the B.C. to the time of Daegaya in 532 and to the end of Goryeong Daegaya in 562, approximately for the period of 600 years.
Gimhae Buncheongsagi [Year 1400 – 1510]
“Buncheongsagi” (Buncheong Ceramic Wares) is the abbreviation of “Buncheonghwecheongsagi” which was name by Go You-seup for its hwecheong color and white clay in its material, unlike the quite an irrelevant name “Misima” used in Japan. Buncheongsagi potteries were made from the mid Goryeo Dynasty in 14th Century, deriving from the style of Goryeo Celadons, which were already fading away slowly at that time. By the beginning of the 15th Century in Joseon Dynasty, Bucheongsagi potteries were much more developed and have bloomed with its beauty, having been developed in totally different direction than Goryeo Celadon potteries. Various techniques in making Buncheongsagi potteries were established by the time of King Sejong, and the status of Korean potteries stood firmly. At the end of the 15th Century, Buncheongsagi pottery kilns that widely existed around the country slowly faded away, as the number of Guanyao increased, kilns that directly supplied potteries needed by the government. Therefore, Buncheongsagi kilns remained only in small scales in the end of the 15th Century and beginning of the 16th Century, which than slowly shifted into making White Porcelain potteries later.
General in Red and Chungiksa [Year 1592, April 13]
Chungiksa enshrines the memorial tablets of the General in Red, General Gwak Jae-u and 17 others who led the first nation’s militia (“Uibyeong”).
Nongae [Year 1593, June]
During the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592, Japan started the Second Jinjuseong Fortress Battle in June 1593 with 120 thousands of troops, after having last to Korea on the First Jinjuseong Fortress Battle in October 1592, and on the second battle Japan succeeded to invade the Jinjuseong Fortress fighting over 70 thousands of Korean troop. After having the area invaded by Japan, Nongae lured the General of Japanese Army and embraced him down the cliff, killing them both.
Cheongma Literature Hall is established to preserve, succeed, and develop the cultural spirit of Yu Chi-hwan, a leading poet of twentieth century of Korea. The Literature Hall is opened in February, 2000 in the shore of Mangilbong in a area of 4,026m2 with the replica of his birthplace.
Masan Samjin Uigeo [Year 1919]
Samjin Uigeo (Samjin Independence Movement) was a civil movement initiated by the citizens of Jinjeon, Jinboek, and Jindong against the Japanese Invasion of Korea around the time when the Samil Independence Movement (March 1st Independence Movement) have expended to national wide movement. Samjin Uigeo is one of the 4th civil movements of the Year of Gimi together with Jae-amri Incident in Suwon, Suncheon-eup Uigeo in Pyeongan-do, Su-an Uigeo in Hwanghae-do. 8 people have died and 22 got injured from Samjin Uigeo. The patriots passed away in Samjin Uigeo are Kim Sudong, Beon Gapsup, Kim Yeonghwan, Go Myeo-ju, Lee Gibong, Kim Ho-hyeon, and Hong Do-ik. They were recognized as the 8 martyrs for the country, for whom memorial tombstones were put up in 1946 by the people in the opposite to Sadong Church in that area, and Changui Tower was erected in October 1963 on the very spot where the 8 martyrs for the country passed away. The 8 martyrs of the country were granted presidential citation for their patriotic spirit by the government in 1968. On the very spot where the 8 martyrs of the country have passed away in Sadong-ri, Jindong-myeon was established the Chang-ui Tower in 1963 and the starting place of Samil Uigeo now has the graveyard of the 8 martyrs of the country.
Geochang massacre was occurred by troops of Korean Army killing 719 innocent civilians with the excuses of liquidating red guerrillas for over 4 days from February 9th to 11th in 1951.
Geoje POW (prisoners of war) Camp was built during the Korean war of June 25 in 1950 to hold war prisoners, which were built around Geohyeon and Suwol area and captured around 170.3 thousands of war prisoners including 150 thousands of North Korean prisoners, 20 thousands of Chinese prisoners and 300 of women prisoners. Geoje POW Camp is the very site of ideological conflicts of the Cold War age, where the murders between “anticommunist prisoners of war” and “procommunist prisoners of war” were constantly occurred.
3.15 Masan Democracy Movement [Year 1960]
Address : National March 15 Democratic Uprising Cemetery, 75, 3.15 Seungyeok-ro, Masanhoewon-gu, Changwon-si
The movement broke out by the citizens and students of Masan against Lee Syngman government’s attempt for fraudulent election on March 15, 1960 in order to maintain the dictatorship of the Liberal Party. After the first movement on March 15th, the corpse of Kim Ju-yeol rose to the surface of the sea in Masan Jungang Pier on April 11th, who went missing after the first movement, with a tear gas shell stuck in his head, and the second movement for democracy broke out again. From the movement, 12 people were killed and 250 were shot by police or captured and tortured by police. The Masan Democracy Movement has led to the April 19 Revolution which brought an end to the dictatorship of Lee Syngman. 3.15 Masan Democracy Movement has left the remark of being the first the Korea’s national movement for democracy, which found its base in pursuit of freedom, democracy, and justice. The movement brought the democracy upon the history of Korea.
