일제시기 白山商會의 창립과 변천

Abstract

Although Baeksan Trading Company (白山商會) is mentioned as acornerstone of the independence movement by Ahn Hee-je (安熙濟),studies on this have regained at an elementary level. They focus onBaeksan Trading Company among many Korean companies during theJapanese colonial period not because it was a major example of theself-strengthening movement but because it played an important rolein developing his independence and social movements. As shown in thebankruptcy process, Baeksan Trading Company was not a model casefrom the perspective of economic self-strengthening. This article aims to raise issues that empirical studies have cometo a standstill and Anh Hee-je has been deified as ‘#36 in theProvisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai’ and toapproach the reality of Baeksan Trading Company mentioned as acornerstone of his independence movement. For this purpose, it waspossible to reveal some facts using articles of 『Busan Ilbo (釜山日報)』 and 『Chosun News (朝鮮時報)』and in particular registrationpublication and company advertising on advertising pages. First, the most controversial issues in previous studies on BaeksanTrading Company were when Ahn Hee-je returned and established Baeksan Trading Company. Conventionally, based on <BaeksanGonggajang geup Yusayakrok (白山公家狀及遺事略錄)>, it is speculatedthat he founded it right after his return in September 1914 or around1916. However, this article presents data showing that it could beestablished around 1912. In order to exactly determine BaeksanTrading Company was founded, there is an urgent need to find dataon the commercial registration publication. Second, Baeksan Trading Co., Ltd. (白山貿易株式會社) had neverdistributed profits to stockholders due to the debt and loss carryforward. This led to stockholders’ opposition to the additional paymentand forfeiture of management right and eventually caused internalconflicts. However, all debts or loss carry forwards were not causedby management failure but taken over from its limited partnership. Itis considered that Baeksan Trading Co. Ltd as a limited partnershipowed a huge debt for about a year which reached a peak of theeconomic boom during the Japanese colonial period not simply becauseit was attributed to management issues but because substantialcompany funds were used for independence movement.