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THE KOREAN INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT
Tho 8lno-Anglo-American policy declaration at the3 promising that "in due course Korea shall become free and Independent"remendous political capital for the numerous Korean Independence groups In exile. Despite this assetommon desire for Independence, these groups, some of which have beenre not fundamentally united. The chief source of this disunity lies In personal disagreements among the leaders, rather than in major differences in political principles. As yet none of the independence groups has been recognized by the Allied Governments as the official representative of the Korean people. The long separation of these exile groups from popular opinion within Korea and their lack of realwith one another suggest the possibility that new, moregroups may be formed following Korean liberation.
Until the end ofh century Korea was ruled under the loose suzerainty of the Chinese. In this virtually autonomous position Korea had sufficient freedom toational cultureational language.ollowing the Japanese victory over China, thesuzerainty was dissolved.9 Japan wasree hand In Korea by the Treaty of Portsmouth, and0 the Japanese annexed the peninsula, which theytrategic "dagger pointed at the heart ofnder Japanese domination approximatelyercent of the Korean population0 has been engaged in foodespecially rice, the bulk of which has been exported to Japan. The Japanese have also availed themselves of such Korean raw materials as timber, iron ore, coal, gold, and cotton.
Both Koreans at home and those in exile have given evidencetrong desire for Immediate and complete Independence. Although the Japanese have been partially successful In winning over the Korean royalty and aristocracy through titles, gifts, and preferences, national consciousness has grown steadily among all classes under Japanese rule. The higher level of education, the more efficient administration, and the industrial development which the Japanese have brought to Korea have only served to stimulate the desire for Independence. The Japanese have been increasingly forced to govern through strict police controls and armed force. Despite this rigid supervision Korean undergroundgroups have been established. Other groups have chosen to leave Korea and to work for Korean Independence in exile.
The foremost Korean independence group in exile ls the Korean Provisional Government {Kopogo) with its headquarters in Chungking. The Kopogo, which receives the nominal allegiance of nearly all other
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exile groups, was founded in Shanghai0 following the failure of an uprising in Korea at that time. The Kopogo has drawnrovisional Constitution of the Republic of Korea and hasrovisional Legislative Assembly. It maintains control over the Korean Independence Army which operatesart of the Chinese National Army. It directs underground work In Occupied China and Korea. Funds to operate the Kopogo cometax" levied upon members in China and the United 8tates and from monthly grants received from the Kuomintang. Besides the monthly grants the Kopogo receives substantial funds from the Kuomintang for underground work.
The political viewpoint of the Kopogo ls largely conservative because of the dominance of the Independence Party, chief of the smaller groups which compose the Kopogo, and of that Party's leader. Ku Kim, who is chairman of the Kopogo. The other important group within the Kopogo, the Revolutionary Party,omewhat more liberal point of view, but because the latitude between the political views of the two parties is not great, relatively little friction exists. Despite the Inclusion of several members of the Anarchist and Communist Parties, the Kopogo probably is more representative of the wealthier classes than lt ls of the average Korean.
Outside China the chief Korean Independence groups are in the United States and Hawaii. In the United States the official representative of the Kopogo Is the Korean Commission. The chairman of theis Dr. Syngmano-founder of the Kopogo who has spent his lifetime working for Korean independence. Rhee's followers, few in number but influential In the United States, have formed the Comrades Partyn Hawaii members of this party are both numerous and wealthy. The political views of both the Korean Commission and the Comrades Party, like those of the Kopogo, arc conservative. Most of the disagreement among the Korean exile groups has centered about Rhee's leadership and Influence.
Nearly all other Korean groups and factions In exile are joined together in the United Korean Committeehe chief orientation of these numerous groups is their strong opposition to Rhee andto the policy and practice of the Korean Commission. Despite Rhee's eminence in the Korean independence movement, the UKCis removal from the chairmanship of the Commission, charging that he was playing personal politics and seeking personalThe Kopogo denied the request Notwithstanding, the UKC has continued until the present to profess its allegiance to the Kopogo. Inowever, the organization of the New Democratic Party in Chungking was announced, ostensibly to oppose the leadership of the Kopogo, although no official break has since been made. The UKCIts Interest In the manifesto of the new group. The political principles of the new Party have not yet been declared, but itsand the wording of the manifesto suggest that the Party's program will be more liberal than that of Rhee and the Kopogo.
The present Inability of the two chief Korean groups in the United States to work together was fully demonstrated at the San Francisco Conference.oint meeting for the purpose of selecting unofficial representatives to send to the Conference, the two groups, unable to come to any agreement, decided to send separateThe UKC charged that Rhee attempted to appoint only delegates of his choice without regard for the rights of the UKC. At the Conference itself, the UKC took strong exception lo Rhee's allegation that the USSR had been granted an exclusive sphere of influence In Koreaecret agreement at Yalta. The chairman of tbe UKC declared that Rhee's statement was "unfortunate and indiscreet" and not in "tbe bestof the Koreanhee declared that those in the opposite political camp, "Korean opportunists ofere "new passengers on the Russianespite the obvious splits within the Korean ranks, Rhee asserted that the Korean Independence groups In the United States have achieved unity except forew Communiste further implied that tbe UKC was linkedorean independence group at Yenan. which he asserted has been indoctrinated "withprinciples" by the USSR. Only In the dissemination ofabout Korea did the two groups work Jointly at the San Francisco Conference.
Although Rhee's apologists assert that Allied recognition of the Kopogo as the Provisional Government of Korea would "minimis* the rifts among Korean groups" the breach between the two chief groups, even though based largely upon personal differences, Is wide.recent indications are that political difference* are coming to the fore, and that tho newly announced Democratic Party in Chungking may become an active opponent of the Kopogo. The close relationship* between the Kopogo and the Kuomlntang and the strong anti-Soviet bias of Rhee and the Kopogo satellite groups would complicate Allied negotiation with the Korean independence movement. Finally, theof Korea might disclose the existence of an Indigenousnce movement with closer ties to the Korean people than any of the groups which have been so long In exile.
Original document.
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