Roots of the March First Movement as Non-violent, Ordinary People’s Search for Justice The March First Movement of 1919 in Korea, widely accepted as a new type of movement based on the nonviolence and engagement of ordinary people, has attracted many scholars to study its historical character. Yet, there are few studies on the roots of the Movement spirit. This paper introduces a unique approach, offered by Moon-Young Lee. Lee traced the roots of the Movement in four moments in a Korean history: first, ideals of ancient Koreans; Pungryu-do in Silla dynasty; Donghak and Christian movement at the end of Joseon dynasty. Lee examined the character of the agent, goal to be achieved and the means to achieve the goal in each of four moments. Comparing the four, Lee found out that there are continuity and evolution in the four moments, which explain the extraordinary feat by ordinary people in the non-violent peaceful demand of independence.