We would like to invite undergraduate and graduate Korean American students at Penn to a commemorative event on April 16th.
 
As you may know, there was a historic convention called "The First Korean Congress" 90 years ago (1919) here in Philadelphia.
The convention was held right after the Samil Movement (삼일운동) with the initiative of Dr. Philip Jaisohn (서재필), who is the first Korean American.
The attendees of the convention include Philip Jaisohn (서재필), Syngman Rhee (이승만), Henry Chung (정한경), New Ilhan (유일한), ByungOk Cho (조병옥), members of Korean Society (국민회-안창호 설립) as well as other 150 Korean patriots and several tens of Americans. They discussed pathways for the independence of Korea and adopted resolutions demanding supports from the U.S. government.
They marched downtown Philadelphia and read the Declaration of Independence (독립선언서) in front of the Independence Hall.
 
In memory of the convention, the Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation will replicate that event by marching through the ways our predecessors walked out. After the march, the current ambassador Han Duk Su (former Secretary of Treasury of Korea) will present a plate to the mayor of Philadelphia in gratitude of Philadelphia city's support for Korean independence at that time.

We invite all Korean-American students in Philly to this event so that young generations can share the noble history of what our predecessors did for the benefits of us.

I know that you are extremely busy at the end of the semester, but I hope Korean and Korean-American students at Penn have a leeway to join us to commemorate our predecessors' efforts. We will distribute a dinner coupon for each participant.

Time: April 16th 2009, 5:00PM to 6:30 PM

Place: Player's Play's Theater
         1714 Delancey Avenue (5 southern blocks from the 17th Chestnut St.)

Please circulate this email to all Korean students at Penn, and do not hesitate to contact me in regard to this. We welcome any groups or individuals.

Sincerely

Dr. Whan Soon Chung
President & CEO
     
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Philip Jaisohn Memorial Foundation
6705 Old York Road Philadelphia PA 19126
 (215.224.2040)
www.jaisohn.org

Philip Jaisohn Memorial House
100 East Lincoln Street Media PA 19063
   (267.290.8948)