Editing March First Movement (section)

=== Fourteen Points and philosophical developments ===
{{See also|Fourteen Points}}
Japan had been successfully rapidly industrializing since the late 19th century. Around this time, Western theories surrounding [[social Darwinism]] and [[Civilizing mission|colonial civilizing missions]] gained significant traction in Japan. These theories were often used to justify and promote [[Japanese colonialism]]. The devastation during the 1914–1918 [[World War I|First World War]] was a shock to many, and motivated intellectuals in Korea and around the world to discuss [[Liberalism|liberal]] reforms, especially [[anti-colonialism]], and ideals that would serve to discourage future such conflicts.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |script-title=ko:신편 한국사 |publisher=[[National Institute of Korean History]] |volume=47 |language=ko |trans-title=[[Korean History (book series)|Korean History (New Edition)]] |chapter=3·1운동: 해방과 평등의 새로운 사조 등장 |trans-chapter=March First Movement: The Emergence of Ideals of Self-determination and Equality |chapter-url=http://contents.history.go.kr/front/nh/view.do?levelId=nh_047_0040_0010_0020 |via=우리역사넷 |archive-date=May 14, 2024 |access-date=May 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514074819/http://contents.history.go.kr/front/nh/view.do?levelId=nh_047_0040_0010_0020 |url-status=live }}</ref>
[[File:Thomas Woodrow Wilson, Harris & Ewing bw photo portrait, 1919 - black and white (cropped).jpg|thumb|197x197px|U.S. President Woodrow Wilson (1919)]]
After the end of the war in 1918, United States President [[Woodrow Wilson]] announced his vision for establishing peace and the new world order. This vision was dubbed the Fourteen Points, and included the right of national [[self-determination]].<ref name="Neuhaus 2017">{{cite journal |last=Neuhaus |first=Dolf-Alexander |year=2017 |title="Awakening Asia": Korean Student Activists in Japan, The Asia Kunglun, and Asian Solidarity, 1910–1923 |journal=Cross-Currents: East Asian History and Culture Review |volume=6 |issue=2 |pages=608–638 |doi=10.1353/ach.2017.0021 |s2cid=148778883 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> Koreans who learned of Wilson's vision were inspired, and interpreted it as signaling support for their independence movement. Their sympathy to the U.S. and the [[Allies of World War I|Allies]] reportedly greatly increased.{{Sfn|Manela|2007|p=131}}<ref name=":6" />

The sincerity behind Wilson's advocacy for self-determination is debated. Some scholars argue his advocacy was limited to the former colonies of the defeated [[Central Powers]], which Japan was not a part of.<ref name="EncyKorea Movement">{{Citation |last=김 |first=진봉 |title=3·1운동 (三一運動) |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopedia of Korean Culture]] |url=https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0026772 |access-date=2024-04-29 |publisher=[[Academy of Korean Studies]] |language=ko |archive-date=April 16, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240416063921/https://encykorea.aks.ac.kr/Article/E0026772 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Hart-Landsberg, Martin 1998 P. 30">{{Cite book |last=Hart-Landsberg |first=Martin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BBa7AAAAIAAJ |title=Korea: Division, Reunification, and U.S. Foreign Policy |date=December 1998 |publisher=Monthly Review Press |isbn=978-0-85345-928-6 |pages=30 |language=en |archive-date=May 7, 2024 |access-date=May 2, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240507020049/https://books.google.com/books?id=BBa7AAAAIAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> Historian Ku Daeyeol argues Wilson's efforts were sincere, but frustrated by geopolitical realities.{{Sfn|Ku|2021|pp=125–126}} The U.S. would not begin openly advocating for Korean independence until decades later, after it joined [[World War II]] against Japan.<ref>{{Citation |last=Son |first=Sae-il |title=孫世一의 비교 傳記 (64) |date=July 2, 2007 |work=[[Monthly Chosun]] |trans-title=Son Sae-il's Comparative Critical Biography (64) |url=http://monthly.chosun.com/client/news/viw.asp?ctcd=&nNewsNumb=200707100074 |access-date=May 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320121144/http://monthly.chosun.com/client/news/viw.asp?ctcd=&nNewsNumb=200707100074 |archive-date=March 20, 2023 |url-status=live |language=ko}}</ref> The Japanese colonial government suppressed discussion of the Fourteen Points; for example, around this time it reportedly banned a foreign film from being screened in Korea because the film had images of President Wilson.{{Sfn|Ku|2021|pp=|p=109}}{{Sfn|Manela|2007|pp=129–130}}