Politics10 March 1898
Manmin Gongdonghoe (People’s Joint Assembly)
The Independence Club held its first mass rally at Jongno, demanding the recall of Russian military instructors and financial advisers and rejecting Russia’s bid to lease Jeolyeongdo.
National Institute of Korean History · Public domain · Source
Chaired by a market merchant, Hyeon Deok-ho, it was the first modern popular assembly open to all classes. Thousands denounced Russian interference, and Russia withdrew its instructors and advisers, closed the Korean-Russian Bank and dropped its lease demand.
The assemblies continued, calling for reformist ministers and freedom of speech and assembly, and in October grew into a joint assembly attended by government ministers.
