해방 이전 대한인동지회의 조직과 활동

Abstract

In this article I studied the Dongji-Hoi from its establishment till its independence movement before Korea’s liberation. Dongji-Hoi which was established in Hawaii by Syngman Rhee was one of the organizations for the independence movement representing the Korean society in America together with Daehaningookminhoi (Korean National Association) in Hawaii and North America. In the meantime the study on Dongji-Hoi was not so active, however, steadily progressed. My study concentrated on the background of its establishment, the formation of its North America general meeting, and its independence movement and character which had not been studied sufficiently. Syngman Rhee keenly realized that he needed a means to maintain stably his duties as the president of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai from his visiting experiences to Shanghai. And this was the background of the establishment of the Association. His recognition of such necessity made him prepare a means right after his returning to Hawaii and finally the Association could be established on the 7th of July, 1921. Dongji-Hoi held a Korean representative meeting in March, 1924 and enacted 3 political principles and 4 course plans and strengthened its system. After that it founded Dongji production company in December, 1925 to secure self-sufficient economic strength for the Korean people, however, the production company was bankrupt in April, 1931 because of chronic shortage of funds and lack of management competency. Syngman Rhee held the representative meeting of Dongji-Hoi (Dongji Mipo Representative Meeting) in Honolulu from 15th through 21st of July, 1930 and tried unification centered on Dongji-Hoi and its reconstruction activity. And he formed the organization of Dongji-Hoi in which the competence of its president was strengthened greatly, and nearly absolutized his role and weight. But as the Federation of Korean residents in Hawaii claimed its popularization and opposed Syngman Rhee, Dongji-Hoi caused a stir to the Korean society in Hawaii on the contrary. Dongji-Hoi started actively its public activities with imperial Japan’s invasion of Manchuria. First of all, its attitude changed to actively supporting the Provisional Government which was estranged for the mean time and actively supported Syngman Rhee’s diplomatic activities to the League of Nations. On the basis of such activities Dongji-Hoi gradually restored its power and propelled a partnership working with other Korean bodies in Hawaii. The result through the partnership working made it possible for Dongji-Hoi to form the biggest combined body for the independence movement in the Korean society in America, the United Korean Committee in America (hereinafter called “UKC”) at the All Korean Overseas Convention. Dongji-Hoi worked as a key body in the executive department of the UKC and led the activities for raising funds for the independence movement and supporting Syngman Rhee’s diplomatic activity. As the state government of Hawaii restricted freedom of assembly and association after the outbreak of the Pacific War, Dongji-Hoi held a representative meeting of Dongji-Hoi in North America in Chicago in June, 1942 and formed the North America general branch of Dongji-Hoi. As Charles H. Kim working for the executive department of the UKC began to engage in conflicts with Syngma Rhee under such a situation over the expansion of the foreign affairs committee, the North America general branch of Dongji-Hoi opposed the action of the executive department of the UKC and independently supported Syngman Rhee. This caused Dongji-Hoi in Hawaii to withdraw from the UKC on the 23rd of December, 1943. While Dongji-Hoi in North America opposing the action of the executive department of the UKC started its own activities, it reorganized its system into the North America General Meeting of Dongji-Hoi and held the North America-Hawaii representative meeting of Dongji-Hoi. This showed that the center of Dongji-Hoi moved from Hawaii to North America. When Dongji-Hoi was established, Syngman Rhee was the central figure of its organization and its main duty was to support Syngman Rhee and his public activities. Such destiny and main mission of Dongji-Hoi made it different from that of other bodies in the Korean society in America.