The examination of compensation payments for the descendants of the Donghak Peasant Revolution has sparked heated online debates.

The North Jeolla Province has announced its consideration of a project to provide 'allowances' to the descendants of participants in the Donghak Peasant Revolution, which occurred in 1894, leading to controversy.

While some argue that support for descendants is necessary as a recognition of the historical significance of the Donghak Revolution, which became the foundation of the 'Independence Movement', critics contend that if support for these descendants is to be given, it should be extended to all participants of movements during the Joseon Dynasty.

On the 25th, North Jeolla Province revealed that it is internally reviewing the provision of allowances to the descendants of Donghak Peasant Revolution participants residing in the province, starting in 2026. This measure is grounded in the 'Jeollabuk-do Act on Support for the Commemoration of the Donghak Peasant Revolution', which was amended last September.

Currently, Jeong-eup, a basic administrative district, has been providing 100,000 won per month to about 90 descendants of Donghak Peasant Revolution participants since 2020, but North Jeolla Province would be the first to provide a uniform allowance to all descendants at a regional level.

After this news broke, various opinions emerged online. Some netizens reacted, stating, "How about collecting money from the descendants of the Joseon Dynasty who massacred the participants of the Donghak Peasant Revolution?" "Are you going to pay money for history from the Joseon Dynasty? What about Goryeo? The Later Three Kingdoms? Gojoseon?" "Dig through the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty and find all the movements to give allowances," and "Aren't there allowances for the unification of the Three Kingdoms?" raising issues of historical equity.

Assembly member Yeom Yeong-seon (Jeong-eup 2), who was the main sponsor of the related ordinance, explained, "I hope that the value and importance of the Donghak Peasant Revolution can be re-evaluated, contributing positively to the awarding of independent-meritorious statuses to participants, and further to recognizing the spirit of the Donghak Peasant Revolution in the preamble of the Constitution."

Regarding the recent controversy, she rebutted, "Since the Independence Movement has its origins in the Donghak Peasant Revolution, we are reviewing the notion of allowances from an equity perspective as a historical asset of North Jeolla Province. I understand that benefits were provided by the state to generals and their descendants who participated in the Imjin War."

A North Jeolla Province official stated, "Together with the 14 cities and counties in the province, we are internally reviewing the target, scope, and amount of allowances for the descendants. The spirit of the Donghak Revolution is also linked to its roots in the March 1st Movement, and we are pushing for a legal amendment to award national merit status to the participants of the Donghak Revolution."

Image source: Photo provided = Jeong-eup City, reference image for article understanding / Movie 'Myeongryang', reference image for article understanding / News1