황병길의 생애와 독립운동

Abstract

Hwang Byeong-Gil who was born in a typical farmhouse located in Songcheon-dong, Gyeongwon-myeon, Gyeongwon-gun, Hamgyeongbuk Province in 1883 and was well known as “Hunchun Tiger”, was the symbolic figure of the Korean independence movement in Hunchun area, China. He who cut off his third finger as his pledge for the alliance between his comrades was the typical Korean independence activist who emphasized the importance of mutual understanding traveling between Hunchun and Primorie, and devoted himself to the Korea’s independence. He who dedicated himself to the Korea’s Independence Movement after his emigration to Primorie longed for Korea’s independence through the finger cutting alliance together with Ahn Joong-Geun, Baek Kyoo-Sam and others in Yeonchoo (Kraskino). After his returning to Yeontongnapja, Hunchun from Kraskino, Primorie in 1911 he worked hard to train an army for national independence by establishing an educational institution. Besides, he made efforts to improve relations with Chinese local authorities to push ahead with the Korea’s independence movement without a hitch and dedicated himself to raising war funds systematically, too. It can be said that the establishment of a secret society before and after 3. 13 Movement in North Jiandao in 1919 was the fruits of his effort. His activities became a legend in Hunchun. As his family members including his wife also devoted themselves to the independence movement, his family became the symbol of the army for national independence. His life can be divided into 3 periods, that is, the time in Primorie, the time of preparation for war of independence and the time of an anti-Japanese armed struggle. His time in Primorie chiefly can be explained by the struggle of the army in the cause of justice and finger cutting alliance, however, it was not yet ascertained when he moved to Primorie He, who emigrated to Hunchun area, North Jiandao at the end of 1911 after putting aside his activities in Primorie, prepared the theory of war of independence through the cultivation of the army for national independence and the collection of war funds with Hunchun in the background, which could be the place of communication. Also he tried to secure military staffs by combining religious activities with education and collect war funds systematically by forming organizations. This was to secure a shortcut to get over the limitations and weakness of the independence movement. The critical situation of his activities his arrest by Japanese imperialism in 1917 and his working for Japanese imperialism as the head of Gyeongseong Inspection Team, that is, his cooperation with Japanese imperialism. He was an ace in the hole whom Japanese imperialism could utilize for the eradication of the force for the independence movement. But he ran out into the front line of the independence movement again even though he worked for Gyeongseong Inspection Team and he died of an illness in the course of the armed struggle. Judging from these points, it is considered that his activities in Gyeongseong Inspection Team can’t tarnish his life devoted to the independence movement. Finally, he showed a typical armed independence movement after 3·13 Independence Movement. Making the best use of the geographical advantage of Hunchun, he collected war funds, and planed and realized an advance operation into Korea. It can be said that this produced qualitative changes to the armed independence movement. Also he tried to carry out many sided independence movement through the connection with the government- in-exile based in Shanghai. He constantly established operational plans to advance into Korea and realized them. Although he died at a young age, it is not too much to say that he was the leader of the independence movement in North Jiando, specially in Hunchun.