중경시기 대한민국임시정부의 위상과 역할

Abstract

The period of time of the activities of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Chungking was from September, 1940 till its returning to Korea in November, 1945. It was short time to work in Chungking for 5 years, however, the Provisional Government developed the most vigorous activities for independence among its 27 year activities. During 5 years in Chungking the Provisional Government recovered its status as a body representing the Korean people and a leading organization for the independence movement and played its conventional role. The Provisional Government was in prosperous condition in the early stage of its establishment, however, it split up on the issue of impeachment against Syngman Rhee and plunged into a recession. As Bong-Chang Lee and Bong-Gil Yoon, esteemed Korean independence activists, carried out heroic deeds, the Provisional Government worked up steam, however, it should move around a lot in China. In this course, a claim to abolish the Provisional Government was risen and the Provisional Government plunged into in a state of anarchy enough not to maintain and operate its organization. The Provisional Government could overcome such difficulties after its arriving in Chungking. As it settled down in Chungking, it restored its status as a government. It unified the nationalists and expanded its power base through the establishment of the Korea Independence Party, and expanded and put its organization and system in good order. With this opportunity, it could restore its status. As a one-man leadership system was established and the pillar of the government could exert his powerful leadership, the status of the Provisional Government was raised greatly. The most excellent result that the Provisional Government in Chungking obtained was to concentrate the main forces of the independence movement in China to the Provisional Government. All the forces of the independence movement of the left camp including the Chosun People’s Revolutionary Party took part in the Provisional Government. The armed forces of the left camp, the Chosun Volunteer Army, was incorporated into the Korea Liberation Army and the coalition government in which the right and left wing participated was formed. Thus the Provisional Government could establish its status as a body representing the Korean people as well as a leading organization for the independence movement and could play its role. Its representative activities in Chungking were the establishment of the Korea Liberation Army, joint military operations with the allied forces and its trial of entry operations to Korea. From the objective point of view at that time the Korean people couldn’t defeat the imperial Japan for themselves. The best strategy was to prosecute the war against the imperial Japan with the allied forces and achieve nationhood as one of the Allied Nations after the war. Its military operations in the front line of India and Burma in association with British troops and its trial to propel entry operations to Korea with OSS of the United States were parts of such strategy. I think that it is necessary to study deeper the existence and role of the Provisional Government in Chungking and bring its status into relief greatly. Considering the status and role of the Provisional Government, there are some aspects that it was underestimated. Working for 27 years, it suffered lots of difficulties and sometimes it actively worked carrying out its conventional status and role. Many people tend to regard the whole of the Provisional Government as the years of its hardship. It worked in Chungking for 5 years, though it was short time comparing the time in Shanghai and its travel times, and it carried out its role as a body representing the Korean people as well as a leading organization for the independence movement during that time. The time in Chungking was the most shining moment in its 27 year history.