鄭成彦의 독립운동과 해방 이후 활동

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to shed light on Jeong Seong-eon’s independence movement and his post-liberation activities. Although Jeong Seong-eon, an independent movement activist and North Korean politician, lived a remarkable life, he and his activities have not been systematically examined in the existing studies. In this regard, this study attempt to understand Jeong Seong-eon’s activities and choices by focusing on his academic and peer networks in a more continuous sense. Jeong Seong-eon, born in 1912 in Myongchon, North Hamkyung province, attended Christian private schools including Eunjin Middle School in Yanbian, China. His schoolmates, Kim Hak-moo and Kim Yong-seop in Eunjin Middle School, became his comrades working for the independence movement held by Jeong Seong-eon. Jeong Seong-eon dropped out of Eunjin Middle School and went to Nanjing, China in May 1933. He entered the Korean Special Group of Luoyang Military Academy and dropped out as well. Afterwards, Jeong Seong-eon joined Counter Intelligence Corps, which was mainly organized by Kim Koo-affiliated dropouts. In July 1935, he organized Revolutionary Comrades Association for the purpose independence and communism of Chosun. As part of the Revolutionary Comrades Association’s activities, Jeong Seong-eon went to Shanghai to smuggle to Russia, however, in October 1936, he was arrested there and sent to the prison for three years. After being released, Jeong Seong-eon moved to northeast China and worked with Lee Sang-jo from 1943 for the North Manchuria Special Committee of the Korean Independence Alliance. The major background for Jeong Seong-eon’s activities was his previous affiliation with Eunjin Middle School-Revolutionary Comrades Association where his peer network was established. Along with Lee Sang-jo, Jeong Seong-eon was involved in establishing the underground groups of the Korean Independence Alliance in North Manchuria, and then witnessed the liberation of Chosun. The North Manchuria Special Committee activities by Jeong Seong-eon and Lee Sang-jo in connection with the center of the Korean Independence Alliance served as an important foundation for the advancement of the Korean Volunteer Army into the Northeast region after the liberation. After the liberation, the North Manchuria Special Committee fostered young Chosun members, following the organization’s principle that the young Chosun members should play a pioneering role for the fulfillment of the Chosun revolution and reunification. The committee was committed to establishing armed Chosun forces in the Northern Manchurian region and training the Chosun leaders. During this period, Jeong Seong-eon participated in political and social activities rather than in military affairs. Jeong Seong-eon, who was involved in various projects in the Northern Manchuria, moved to North Korea around March and April 1948. After the migration to North Korea, although Jeong Seong-eon could be typically classified as the Yeon-yan group, he did not join the Chosun New Democratic Party centered on the Yeon-yan group but was active in the Korean Democratic Party. In the context of the double tasks of relieving the opposition of the Christian forces and restructuring the Korean Democratic Party toward communism after the spurge of Cho Mansik-affiliated nationalists, Jeong Seong-eon was the most necessary person for the Korean Democratic party in a sense that he had a Christian-friendly as well as solid communist belief.