Korea neglects memory of provisional government

Members of the Korean provisional government pose in front of the government complex in Shanghai prior to their return to Korea on Nov.13, 1945. / Korea Times file

Historians call on commemorative projects to revive its fading legacy

By Do Je-hae

As Korea marks the 70th year of liberation from Japan, scholars and relatives of those who led the nation's provisional government are calling for commemorative projects to revive interest in the fading legacy of the historic administration.

There has been much media coverage on various aspects of Japanese rule in this landmark year in Korean history, but the activities of the provisional government have received scant attention.

Successive governments have been negligent in properly honoring the legacy of the provisional government. Advocates are hoping that this will change ahead of the centennial of the nation's interim government-in-exile during Japanese rule (1910-1945) in 2019.

The interim government was mostly based in China after it was founded in 1919. It served as the center of Korea's campaign to gain independence from Japanese occupation. The government-in-exile undertook administrative, diplomatic and military activities to gain independence.

The current government recently announced plans to refurbish the memorial halls in Shanghai and Chongqing as part of its plan to mark the 70th anniversary of independence, which falls on Aug. 15. But it made no mention of building a domestic facility for honoring the provisional government.

The Committee for the 70th Anniversary of Korean Liberation, established under the Prime Minister's Office, said that the Shanghai office will be reopened on Sept. 3 and the Chongqing office on Nov. 17. "We hope to bring attention to their efforts to liberate Korea," said Jung Jong-wook, head of the committee.

Some Koreans continue to undermine the past endeavors of the provisional government. Critics say that the role they played in Korea's liberation was limited, emphasizing that Korea's independence was a result of the end of the World War II.

Proponents of the provisional government believe that its role expands beyond anti-Japanese activities. Its larger legacy is its contribution in transforming Korea from part of an empire into a republic.

"The provisional government created a modern administrative and legislative body for the first time in Korean history," said Kim Hee-gon, a professor at Andong National University.

Through the 1919 provisional government in Shanghai, China, Korea came to be equipped with the constitutional, legislative and administrative bodies that serve as the basis for today's Korea.

Some have doubted the legitimacy of the provisional government because the colonial powers of the time did not recognize it as a proper administrative entity. Its role in ultimately achieving independence from Japan has invited contrasting views over the years.

Historians who have specialized in studies on the provisional government say that now is the time to properly honor and research it.

Han Si-joon, a historian at Danguk University, is among scholars who have been calling for a museum to commemorate its centennial.

"It has been 70 years since Korea's independence, but we still do not have a museum for the provisional government," Han wrote in a recent column. "This is something we should be ashamed of. China has built memorial facilities for most of the major venues of the provisional government in its country, including Shanghai, Chongqing and Hangzhou, among others."

Chongqing was home to the provisional government after it was forced to move out of its original base in Shanghai following the Japanese invasion of China.

Its last years were spent in Korea when its members returned in 1945. They were based in Gyeongyojang, their last headquarters. Kim Gu (1876-1949) served as its final president before his assassination there.

Even Gyeonggyojang, one of the few domestic traces of the provisional government, has long lost its identity. After Kim's assassination by what some suspect was a right-wing conspiracy, it became the Taiwan Embassy. Since 1967, it has been used as a hospital building.

Due to a lack of facilities here, more than 400,000 Koreans visit the Shanghai provisional government complex, now a memorial hall, each year. "We can no longer delay a memorial hall for that government, the foundation of the Republic of Korea's legitimacy," Han said.

Lee Jong-chan, a former National Intelligence Service chief, has also been vocal about a museum for the provisional government. "For 26 years, it fought for Korea's independence," Lee wrote in a recent column in Hankyoreh Newspaper. "The government and the people should work together to establish a museum for the provisional government and introduce its spirit of democracy. Preparations should begin this year."

Coming from a family of independence activists, Lee leads a committee that honors the members of the provisional government.

The government of the Republic of Korea was founded in 1948, but people such as Lee believe that it was founded in 1919.

Not only is there a lack of facilities, there is also a lack of research on the provisional government.

Most of the documents produced by it were lost during the 1950-53 Korean War. Some were taken by Japan during colonial rule. This has hampered proper research.

As Korea marks the 70th anniversary of independence, efforts are being made to recover some of them.

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans affairs recently discovered 83 press releases published during the early years of the provisional government.

[Provisional government profile]

Notable presidents:

- 1919–1925: Syngman Rhee (later founding president of the Republic of Korea)

- 1927–1933/1935–1940: Yi Dong-nyeong

- 1926–1927/1940–1948: Kim Gu

Proclamation: April 13, 1919

Capitals-in-exile: Shanghai, Chongqing, Seoul

Surrender of the Empire of Japan: Aug. 15, 1945

Republic of Korea established: Aug. 15, 1948