With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

“With great power comes great responsibility” is a popular proverb from the movie “Spider-Man.” Spider-Man possesses great power, but he uses it to uphold justice in the world and protect innocent people from those who misuse their power for personal gain. It was impressively remaining in my memory even though I watched this movie long time ago. because it gave food for thought how power can affect on others and myself. There are people with power but has less responsibility or only interested in their own benefits, the other side of people who have less power will be suffered from the power to gain more power. Power can be used to dominate the other to maintain one’s own power. However, if we are looking back the history of how nations rise and fall as their power flows, there were always consequence for inadequately usage of power. There’s always a power to act or to seek changes within the system. As I’ve researched about the independent movement of Korea from Japan’s Empire rule in the view of power dynamic, I could find how the power formed to try to change the impossible systematic power and how the hidden power can confront against the traditional authority.

During the Japanese colonial period in the early 1900s, Korean couldn’t have basic rights and freedoms like being able to govern themselves, keep their own culture, speak freely, and control their economy as Japan implemented a policy of ethnic cleansing. Not only did schools and universities forbid speaking Korean but Japan authorities also burned over 200,000 Korean historical documents for wiping out Korean culture to take over complete Korea. Additionally, the colonial government made Koreans ‘worship the gods of imperial Japan,’ including dead emperors and the spirits of war heroes who had helped conquer Korea earlier in the century,”(Blackemore) Forcing Koreans to worship the war heroes who conquered them is deeply humiliating and shameful, and inhumane. Japan not only conscripted young men forcefully but also engaged in inhumane acts such as forcing young women into comfort women, or sex slaves for their military army. Like this, Koreans faced numerous difficulties and brutalities during this time. Because the Japanese government was very harsh to control over colonized countries, protesting Japan’s authority had to be progressed in secret.

The March 1st Movement was a significant protest movement in early 1919 by over 1500 Korean people that called for independence from Imperial Japan and a stop to the forced assimilation into Japanese culture, also all the Korean gathered to shout “Long live Korean independence!” in resistance against the Japan’s colonial rule. Koreans fought hard to win back control of their country and regain their freedom from Japanese rule. The Japanese brutally suppressed the protests, yet not before the yearning for independence spread throughout Korea. The movement was remarkable because gathering more than 1,500 people would not have been possible during the time when Japan aggressively banned the use of the Korean language and restricted gathering. The reason why the movement was successful was that there were many people proactively gathering power to raise their voices and make other countries recognize Japan’s unjustified ruling of Korea. Yu, Gwan-sun was one of those who led the movement and was a popular activist in Korea. I’m sure most people, when they try to think of the leader of the movement, envision an adult man, well-educated, and having authority. However, you’ll be surprised by the fact that Gwan-sun Yu was only a 17-year-old girl, a normal student of Ewha Hakdang. According to Kang, When the March 1st movement started, Yu went door to door and encouraged the public to join the independence movement. She spread the word of an organized demonstration. (Kang) She also led another significant movement in her hometown, which was 57 miles away from Seoul, where the March 1st movement was held. She organized another 3000 people to gather and shout “Long Live Korea Independence”.  She passed away due to torture in prison after being arrested for a year. Yu’s death was a significant inspiration for many Koreans during that time, and it sparked more movements for independence from Japan. These movements continued until Korea gained independence on August 15, 1945. Despite so many oppressions and challenges from Japan, the Korean independence eventually succeeded. Korea finally became independent from Japan as Japan surrendered to Allies who tried to stop their control.

According to Eric Liu, there are 3 core strategies for peacefully turning awareness into action explaining how to turn protest into powerful change; Expand the frame of the possible, Choose a defining fight and Find an early win. The March 1st movement was Early win to the ultimate goal to become being independent nation from Japan. Early win, even if it’s not as ambitious as the ultimate goal, it creates momentum which changes what people think is possible (Eric Liu) Originating from the ideas of a few individuals, the movement gained strength as more people’s thoughts and beliefs contributed to it. This provided inspiration for many other weak citizens who had previously been unable to act on their own thoughts due to submission to Japan’s power. Korea government was also weak among the powerful countries of the world such as Russia, Japan, US when our sovereignty was plundered. However, the belief and desire for independence from Japan brought people together, eventually sparking a significant change resulting in Independence from Japan. And I believe that the spirit of fighting for independency and justice become the driving force for Korea becoming a better country as of now. Yu gives us a lot of inspiration about who could be the one to change the world, even if they feel the power is too overwhelming to confront. Anyone can be the starting point of change, and even if the beginning is minimal, it can eventually gather significant momentum, leading to substantial change and a better world for everybody.

Power has influence over everything around us. That power can bring both positive and negative effects. According to Effective Advocacy, they categorized power by its characteristics, stating that “it can be wielded in ways that help or harm” (Effective Advocacy). In that era, the Japanese Empire was an example of how power can be misused and harm other people. The way they wielded their power was backed by an ideology of nationalism, which is a sentiment that emphasizes the pride, identity, and unity of the Japanese nation against Western power. (Blandino et al) This ideology justified their colonization of other countries and inhuman behaviour in the colonized countries. They also accumulated more power in the forms of capital and military by engaging in repeated wars and plundering resources from neighbouring countries. Their traditional and visible power grew as their territory expanded, encompassing other countries for their resources. However, their invisible power weakened as other countries became against them, since their belief in their superiority over others was inhumane and unacceptable. Consequently, they were opposed by allies of other countries and had been taken away the power of wealth and military as they were attacked by bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. That causes killing more than 200,000 people and destroying cities infrastructure that needs several ten years of time to reconstruct. (Onion) The misuses of their power not only undermined the Empire’s ideological foundations but also resulted in immense suffering for innocent civilians. The tragic events of Hiroshima and Nagasaki demonstrate the consequences of unchecked power wielded without ethical consideration. Ultimately, the Japanese Empire’s pursuit of power let to its downfall, and the consequence has impacted for a lasting time.

We live in a world that distributes unequal power to each individual and each group. Some people born with privileges and freedom, while others born with disadvantages and deprived of liberty. However, great power comes with great responsibility, power should not be used to take away the power of others to become more stronger for their own benefit. History tells us that Japan’s nationalism, which was solely aimed at gaining more power for themselves, resulted in substantial damages that backfired on them. Those with great power should utilize their strength towards societal good through responsible actions. Their influence holds the potential to positively impact the community. It is essential for them to wield their power in service of the greater good. Also, we should understand from the history how the organizing small powers of each one can become a starting point to change the world for justice. We can learn this from Yu, who, at just 17 years old, became the catalyst for awakening others and eventually made a significant impact in achieving independence from Japan’s colonial rule. Marginalized groups in vulnerable positions should not underestimate their power. Instead, they should proactively address inequalities and take responsibility for raising their voices.

Work Cited

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July 2023, www.history.com/news/japan-colonization-korea.

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www.phoenixzonesinitiative.org/effective-advocacy-power-dynamics.

Eric Liu. “How to Turn Protest Into Powerful Change – Eric Liu.” YouTube, 14 July 2016,

www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_g1BMVFcuw.

Onion, Amanda. “Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki – Causes, Impact and Lives Lost |

HISTORY.” HISTORY, 18 Apr. 2023, www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/bombing-of-hiroshima-and-nagasaki.

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Activist Who Defied Japanese Rule.” The New York Times, 11 Apr. 2018,

www.nytimes.com/2018/03/28/obituaries/overlooked-yu-gwan-sun.html

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