New People's Association
Encyclopedia
The New People's Association, established on April 1941 is a clandestine organization for fostering the independence and national strength of the Korean Empire
Korean Empire
The Greater Korean Empire was an empire of Korea that succeeded the Joseon Dynasty.In October 1897, Emperor Gojong proclaimed the new entity at Gyeongungung Palace and oversaw the partially successful modernization of the military, economy, land system, education system, and various industries...

. The organization was formed by social activists such as Ahn Changho, Shin Chaeho, and Park Eunsik
Park Eunsik
Park Eunsik was a historian and the second President of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai during part of 1925. Soon after the impeachment of Syngman Rhee from the presidency, Park was elected the president, but he soon died from illness while in office...

.
With their belief that the enlightenment can strengthen the national power of Korea to achieve the independece, they took in actions on military movement, education, publication, and industrialization. Even after the New People's Association had been dissolved by the Imperial Japan in 1911, they made a huge contribution on the Korean Independence Movement
Korean independence movement
The Korean independence movement grew out of the Japanese colonial rule of the Korean peninsula from 1910 to 1945. After the Japanese surrendered, Korea became independent; that day is now an annual holiday called Gwangbokjeol in South Korea, and Chogukhaebangŭi nal in North Korea.-Background:In...

.

Background

After Independence Club
Independence Club
The Independence Club was founded through the initiative of Philip Jaisohn on July 2, 1896, by the Korean Ministry of Foreign affairs.-See also:*Tongnip Sinmun *People's joint association*Seo Jae-pil...

 (독립협회, 獨立協會) was dissolved on December 25 1898 as Emperor Gojong officially announced to prohibit congresses held by people, the Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...

 made a treaty with the Korean Empire called Eulsa Treaty
Eulsa Treaty
The Japan–Korea Treaty of 1905, also known as the Eulsa Treaty or Japan–Korea Protectorate Treaty, was made between the Empire of Japan and the Korean Empire in 1905. Negotiations were concluded on November 17, 1905....

 which made the Korean Empire become a protectorate
Protectorate
In history, the term protectorate has two different meanings. In its earliest inception, which has been adopted by modern international law, it is an autonomous territory that is protected diplomatically or militarily against third parties by a stronger state or entity...

 of the Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...

  of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

. The treaty laid the foundation for the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty of 1907
Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty of 1907
The Japan–Korea Treaty of 1907 was made between the Empire of Japan and the Korean Empire in 1907. Negotiations were concluded on July 24, 1907.-Treaty provisions:The treaty provided that Korea shall act under guidance of Japanese resident general...

 in and subsequent annexation of Korea
Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty
The Japan–Korea Treaty of 1910, also known as the Japan–Korea Annexation Treaty, was made by representatives of the Empire of Japan and the Korean Empire in 1910. Negotiations were concluded on August 20, 1910...

 in 1910. Even though Emperor Sunjong, who is a son of Emperor Gojong, sent a Hague Secret Emissary Affair
Hague Secret Emissary Affair
Hague Secret Emissary Affair resulted from Korean Emperor Gojong sending confidential emissaries to the Second Peace Conference at The Hague, the Netherlands, in 1907.-Background:...

 to expose the unfairness of the treaty in the Hague Convention of 1907, due to the Great Powers, they were ignored.

History

From the initiation by Ahn Changho in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...

, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...

, the people who used to be the leaders of Independence Club decided to organize Korean New People's Association (대한신민회) from Pyeongyang and Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...

 in the late 1906. After the establishment, they have established branches national-wide, and started to support education, industrialization, and military actions for the independence. However, in 1911, the New People's Association was dissolved as the Imperial Japan fabricated the Case of the One Hundred Five and arrested the main members of the New people's Association. Even though they were dismissed, their ideology and main actions became inherited by the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea
Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea
The Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea was the partially recognised government in exile of Korea, based in Shanghai, China, and later in Chongqing, during the Colonial Korea.-History:...

 later.

Ideology

The main politic ideology of the New People's Association was based on Republicanism
Republicanism
Republicanism is the ideology of governing a nation as a republic, where the head of state is appointed by means other than heredity, often elections. The exact meaning of republicanism varies depending on the cultural and historical context...

, which is far different from Constitutional Monarchy
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...

 which Independence Club
Independence Club
The Independence Club was founded through the initiative of Philip Jaisohn on July 2, 1896, by the Korean Ministry of Foreign affairs.-See also:*Tongnip Sinmun *People's joint association*Seo Jae-pil...

 had believed. Also, to strengthen the national power, they asserted that citizens should be reformed to become new people(신민, 新民) first. In other words, they believed people should be 'prepared' first for the apportunity for the independence of Korea.

Military School of the New Rising

The New People's Association had supported the Righteous Army
Righteous army
Righteous armies, sometimes called irregular armies or militias, have appeared several times in Korean history, when the national armies were in need of assistance....

 movement (militias in Korea) to restore the power of the nation. They established the Military School of the New Rising, which has made a huge contribution to the foundation of the Korean Liberation Army
Korean Liberation Army
The Korean Liberation Army, established on September 17, 1941 in Chongqing, China, was the armed force of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea...

 (한국 광복군), Korean Independence Army (대한독립군), Korean Revolutionary Army (조선혁명군), and Righteous Patriots Corps (의열단) from 1911 to 1920.

Education

As they have believed that the enlightenment is one of the most crucial factor to strengthen the national power, the New People's Association also made a huge investment in education in Korea. It is assumed that about hundreds of middle schools have been established by the New People's Association.

Publication

The New People's Association also published the Daehan Maeil Sinbo (Korean Daily News, 대한매일신보) At the same time, Sonyeon (Boys, 소년) was published as a monthly magazine for students, and all these publication activities provided a basis of the modern culture of Korea.

Leaders of Sinminhoe

  • Shin Chaeho (신채호, 申采浩)
  • Ahn Changho (안창호, 安昌浩)
  • Yun Chiho (윤치호, 尹致昊)
  • Park Eunsik
    Park Eunsik
    Park Eunsik was a historian and the second President of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai during part of 1925. Soon after the impeachment of Syngman Rhee from the presidency, Park was elected the president, but he soon died from illness while in office...

     (박은식, 朴殷植)
  • Yi Dongnyeong (이동녕, 李東寧)
  • Yang Gitak (양기탁, 梁起鐸)
  • Jang Jiyeon (장지연, 張志淵)
  • Yi Donghwi (이동휘, 李東煇)
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