Editing March First Movement (section)

=== Rebuttals from the Korean diaspora ===
Korean-American independence activists attempted to sway U.S. public opinion on the protests through writings and speeches.{{Sfn|Palmer|2020|pp=199–200}}{{Sfn|Ku|2021|p=132}}<ref name="YNA 2019 7" /> They established the [[League of Friends of Korea]] in April, which was dedicated to publicizing the independence movement.{{Sfn|Palmer|2020|pp=205–206}}{{Sfn|Ku|2021|p=132}} The organization would eventually have branches in 19 cities and upwards of 10,000 members.{{Sfn|Palmer|2020|pp=205–206}} In 1921, Henry Chung published ''[[The Case of Korea]]'', a book that criticized Japanese colonialism and advocated for Korean independence.{{Sfn|Palmer|2020|pp=199–201}}{{Sfn|Ku|2021|pp=132–133}} Japan attempted to halt the book's publication. In spite of this, ''The New York Times'' published an abridged version of the book, and the entire book was submitted into the American [[Congressional Record]].{{Sfn|Ku|2021|pp=133–134|p=}} Chung gave dozens of talks on his book and, according to scholar Brandon Palmer, became a noted figure in American intellectual circles, with significant audiences at his talks.{{Sfn|Palmer|2020|pp=199–201}} Some of their writings strategically focused on the disproportionate persecution of Korean Christians, which they knew would evoke sympathy from American audiences. They also placed Korea's situation in the context of increasing Japanese colonialism and aggression, particularly that in China.{{Sfn|Palmer|2020|pp=201–202}}

In Russia, Korean journalists published writings in newspapers such as the ''[[Ch'ŏnggu Sinbo|Hanin Sinbo]]'' about the protests that were quoted by Russian journalists.<ref name="YNA 2019 8" />

According to the analysis of one South Korean journalist, international publications became increasingly skeptical of Japan's narratives as time progressed.<ref name="YNA 2019 14"/> According to the analysis of Palmer, Korean public relations efforts continued into the early 1920s. They attempted to push for recognition at the 1921–1922 [[Washington Naval Conference]], but were rebuffed. At the conference, Japan relinquished [[Shandong Problem|its holdings in Shandong]] and agreed to a number of demilitarization and openness policies. Palmer theorizes that these concessions quelled American criticisms of Japan.{{Sfn|Palmer|2020|pp=213–214}} Palmer argued that the pro-Korea media campaign had some lasting success in influencing American opinion of Japan and Korea. However, the overall American public remained apathetic about Korea, and no significant policy changes occurred as a result of it.{{Sfn|Palmer|2020|pp=207–208; 213–214}}