Seoul: The government of North Jeolla Province in southwestern Korea is set to pay an annual allowance of 1.2 million won ($868) to each of 723 descendants of participants in the Donghak Peasant Revolution, an event that occurred 132 years ago. This decision has sparked a debate over the use of taxpayers' money to provide cash payments to the great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren of those involved in the historic uprising between 1894 and 1895.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Donghak Peasant Revolution was a popular uprising against feudalism and foreign powers, driven by exploitative taxation and harsh rule by local officials. The uprising led to military intervention by China and Japan and precipitated the First Sino-Japanese War. Critics argue that revisiting history from the late Joseon period to establish a form of veterans' allowance is questionable, especially given the current financial constraints of the provincial government.
In 2024, North Jeolla's fiscal self-reliance ratio was 23.51 percent, the lowest among the nation's 16 metropolitan cities and provinces. The province's revenue barely covers civil servants' salaries, and it has accrued significant debt from issuing local government bonds to compensate for budget deficits. Additionally, North Jeolla has mandated that cities and counties under its jurisdiction cover 70 percent of the allowance costs. These local governments, except for Jeonju, have fiscal self-reliance ratios below 20 percent, with Jinan County posting a mere 6.69 percent, the lowest among local governments nationwide.
The decision to offer these allowances is seen as a dangerous precedent, potentially undermining the national veterans' benefits system. The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs has opposed officially honoring Donghak participants, citing a lack of academic consensus and potential confusion with officially recognized independence activists.
The Democratic Party of Korea has been persistent in advocating for special recognition and benefits for Donghak Peasant Revolution participants, given its origins in North Jeolla Province, a significant political base for the party. A special law enacted in 2004, during the Roh Moo-hyun administration, began accepting applications for registration of participants and their bereaved families. When applications were low, eligibility was expanded in 2007 to include great-great-grandchildren.
Critics argue that if historical events are recognized in this manner, similar honors should be extended to other uprisings, such as the Jinju farmer's revolt against corrupt officials over 30 years before the Donghak Revolution. This could lead to compensating descendants of those who opposed corrupt authorities around the 20th century, and even those who resisted Japanese invasions in 1592.
In the context of Korea's independence movement, it seems reasonable to restrict official compensation to those who contributed after Japanese colonial rule began. Extending further back in time complicates identifying involved individuals, locating living descendants, and reaching consensus on historical assessments.
Despite the financial strain, North Jeolla intends to pay allowances to descendants of a 130-year-old popular uprising. This move is seen as exploiting history for populist purposes, granting the Donghak Peasant Revolution undue precedence over other significant historical events.