미주 한인사회의 ‘救濟’ 활동과 해방 전후 한인구제회 조직의 의미

Abstract

This study examines the relief activities of the Korean immigrant community in the United States and the character and significance of the Korean Relief Associations organized around the time of liberation. The Korean diaspora in America began with the 1903 immigration to Hawaii, initially forming fraternal groups such as donghoe to sustain communal bonds. Over time, organizations including the Kongnip Association, the Hapseong Association, and the Daedong Bogukhoe merged, and in 1910 the Korean National Association (KNA) was established. The KNA not only supported independence movements but also institutionalized relief activities, effectively functioning as a self-proclaimed government. The Kongnip Association and the KNA created relief departments and officers who provided medical expenses, living stipends, repatriation costs, labor placement, and funeral services. Such measures exceeded mere mutual aid, representing a comprehensive system of protection for Koreans abroad. The codification of members’ “right to protection claims” further underscores the KNA’s governmental role. The establishment of the Mérida branch in Mexico and relief activities in Cuba exemplify these functions in practice. Although the KNA’s political stature declined after the formation of the Provisional Government in 1919, relief and protection efforts continued. The 1922 charter revision expanded relief beyond medical or funeral support to include assistance during extraordinary crises, while the 1937 charter emphasized “promoting the common welfare of compatriots” as a central mission. These developments reflected generational shifts, the aging of single immigrants, and the growing need for social security. Just before liberation period, Korean immigrants sought to contribute to postwar nation-building through the establishment of relief organizations. The Overseas Korean National Convention held in Hawaii in 1941 declared participation in postwar reconstruction, while the United Korean Council in America issued Korean identity certificates and negotiated with U.S. and Mexican authorities to protect Koreans from being mistaken for Japanese. The “One-Year Plan” of 1945 prepared funds and institutions to aid liberated Korea. In Hawaii, the Postwar Korean Relief Society was formed around the Korean Women’s Relief Society, a women’s organization, and collected clothing, shoes, stationery, and other items to be sent to Korea. This activity, in collaboration with the American Red Cross, demonstrated women-led social relief efforts and international solidarity. Although there was conflict with the Dongjihoe faction, this was a limitation stemming from the federated nature of the Hawaiian relief work. Furthermore, the Korean Relief Society organized in North America was more systematically organized than in Hawaii, including the establishment of “Rules (Articles of Association)”. However, due to the nature of the postwar period, its activities were restricted, and no full-scale activities were confirmed after 1947. Even after liberation, only local chapters of the National Association were confirmed to have been active under the name of the Korean Relief Society. In conclusion, the relief activities of the Korean American community went beyond simple welfare measures, fostering solidarity, securing the rights of immigrants, and demonstrating the capacity to act as a de facto government. These practices represent not only support for the independence movement but also a rehearsal for the national duty of “protecting the people” and implementing social welfare in a future independent Korea. This study therefore reevaluates the Korean diaspora not merely as an auxiliary to independence struggles, but as a substantive contributor to the processes of state formation.