The human tendency longing for independence and freedom has emanated throughout history. Both Korea and the U.S. are two of copious states that achieved such feat, by voicing their anger effectively in the international community after decades of brutal and pitiless suppression. Despite the overarching perspective-strong desire for autonomy-the implications behind the declarations illuminate upon the disparity between the two nation’s ideologies.
Arguably the essence of the American Declaration of Independence is the phrase “all men are created equal, that among these are Life, Liberty, and pursuit of happiness”; similarly, the Korean Declaration of Independence embodies “personal liberty in accord with…the clear leading of God”. Both expressions proclaim that the rights to independence is self-evidently justified. A counterargument would be that there exists a lucid ideological differences in the philosophies of the East and the West, but they are reconciled by a unified goal, aspirations for national independence and sovereignty.
The American Declaration of Independence emphasizes the inhumane and destructive actions of the British that gravely impaired American development; the Korean Declaration, in contrast, notes that the faults for the atrocious oppression do not lie holistically in the immorality of Japan but in the strengths of Korea. Consequently, while the American Declaration of Independence mostly highlights upon the vices of the British Empire, “taking away [the American] Charters” 
and “suspending [its] legislatures”, the Korean Declaration stresses a task to set a new course in accord with the dictates of conscience to increase the potency of the nation to not only lead a prosperous life but also to reconcile the chasm of ill will between the two nations and East Asia; the charters of the American Declaration of independence longs for separation and genuine undisrupted sovereignty while the 33 signers of the Korean Declaration yearns for international cooperation.
Accordingly, the Korean Declaration of Independence does not outline every vices of the Japanese Colonization, only noting that Korea has been damaged to the “dignity of life”, and essentially employs pathos, an emotional appeal over the need for a rapid rectification of the past grievances. It uses provocative phrases, such as “the awakening conscience of mankind” to demand a rapid decolonization. Inconsistently, the American Declaration Independence utilizes logos or logical appeal, to justify why the British must leave America: the heart of the declaration indubitably lies in the list of immoralities of the British Empire (“He has refused his Assent to Laws…all ages, sexes and conditions”). Both are undoubtedly effective in driving out the colonizing forces–the two nations ultimately accomplish achievement incomparable.
Under similar goals, liberty, both Korea and the United States act on similar ideals in their declarations that bring them close to national sovereignty, but the argumentation and the rhetoric applied are discriminating. The lasting effects of the two declarations still permeates through both domestic and international societies.
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NARA [National Archives and Records Administration. Exhibit Hall. The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription. 21 Oct. 2002. <http://www.archives.gov/exhibit_hall/charters_of_freedom/declaration>
A rhetorical analysis of The Declaration of Independence: persuasive appeals and language <http://facultyfiles.deanza.edu/gems/pesanojulie/DecofIndrhetanalysis.htm>
-Interesting Note: The article analyzes the rhetorical techniques that The Declaration of Independence embodies. Perhaps, the logos utilized in persuading that the U.S.’s independence was not the heart of the document. The language that is drawn upon lucidly gives meaning.
Picture Reference : http://www.founding.com/the_declaration_of_i/
Jaesung Lee 