뉴스레터

NAHF held academic conferences and started joint research with professional researchers four times from 2018 to 2019. This was to commemorate the March 1st Movement and the 100th anniversary of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. The theme of the first conference is 'the background and significance of the March 1st Movement and the establishment of the provisional government-the criticism of social evolution theory and the process of republicanism'. At that time, from the time of the Japanese invasion of national sovereignty in the early 20th century until the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in 1919, we analyzed how Korea recognized and accepted Western republicanism(November 2018).

The theme of the second conference is 'The Meaning of the World History of Democratic Republicism, and the development of the independence movement in East Asia - Reexamination of the background, development process and influence on the March 1st Movement and the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea'. At that time, we examined the spirit of the March 1st Movement and the ideology of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea(April 2019).

The third conference was 'a study of the March 1st Movement from an international perspective and the global spread of republicanism before and after World War I'. We looked at the ideological aspects of justice and peace, republicanism, and the independence movement of Ireland(July 2019).

The theme of the fourth conference was 'Reexamination of Ahn Jung-geun's theory of Oriental Peace - The idea of ​​community between Korea, China and Japan'. We analyzed the direction of Korea, China and Japan in the future focusing on the ‘Theory of Oriental Peace’ proposed by Ahn Jung-geun(October 2019).

The three books published as a result of these conferences are 『Reexamination of the March 1st Movement and Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea』(I, II, III). The second of these was a collection of manuscripts published by 13 people at the conferences held in April and July 2019.

Taegeukgi with the Sign of the Korean Liberation Army ⓒCultural Heritage Administration

Volume I: From Monarchy to Democratic Republic

This book contains six papers, divided into two parts. The first half was composed of Lee Byung-taek, Shin Cheol-hee and Kim Hyun-chul. The theme of this part is 'the spread of social evolution theory and republican thought in the West, and acceptance in Korea'. Researchers dealt with changes of the international situation in the early 20th century after the end of the war. And they analyzed how the social evolution theory and republicanism in the West, which justifies the survival of the strong, were introduced and accepted in East Asia and Korea.

In addition, they focused on the process of Korean intellectuals forming the republican ideas and institutions of the West through writings, and the fact that intellectuals tried to introduce and understand the differences between countries.

This book covers Late Joseon Dynasty, the March 1st Movement, and the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. We tried to look at the historical background of the democratic republic, which is a way to build a new independent state, in terms of history of ideas.

Volume II: Republicanism in the meaning of world history, and development of the East Asian independence movement

This book contains thirteen papers. It can be divided into domestic and foreign in theme and form. Through this, we can understand the ideology of the March 1st Movement, the ideology of republicanism, the diplomatic movement at Peace Conference at Paris, the reality of colonial rule of Japan, and the status of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. Fearghal Patrick McGarry, Hou Zhongjun, Naoki Mizuno, and Kim Hyun-chul explained the national movement in Ireland, China and Japan in connection with the March 1st Movement in Korea, or examined the impact of the Irish independence movement on Korea.

Jang In-sung, Yoon Dae-won, Lee Byung-taek, Shin Chul-hee and Kim Ki-seung examined the ideology of the March 1st Movement and the spirit and significance of republicanism. They illuminated the world spirit and peace thought in the Declaration of Independence, the Historicity of the March 1st Revolution on the Provisional Government's legitimism and republicanism, and the idea of ​​Republican state of Cho So-ang. Shin Hyo-seung examined the historical significance of Kim Kyu-sik's the diplomatic movement at Peace Conference at Paris. Seo Jong-jin described the colonial rule of Japanese imperialism as 'Extension of the Japanese Homeland' and 'Cultural Policy'. Jung Jin-seok examined the new ideas that appeared after the March 1st Movement and the oppression of the governor general. And Jang Se-yoon reexamined the status of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea at the French Concession in Shanghai.

This book reveals the March 1st Movement, process of establishing a provisional government, its ideological background, the emergence of new ideology, and the connection with the international community.

The Sites of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea in Shanghai (Erixmetro ‖ CC BY SA)

Volume III: Ahn Jung-geun's Theory of Oriental Peace

This book contains eight articles. This study examined Ahn Jung-geun's patriotic deed and the Theory of Oriental Peace based on today's Zeitgeist. The Theory of Oriental Peace is an unfinished article left by Ahn Jung-geun, who was imprisoned in Lushun Russo-Japanese Prison. Here's what it says. “In order to achieve peace in the East against Western aggression, Korea, Qing Dynasty and Japan must unite while maintaining their independence.” He expanded the category of Eastern peace from the Three Kingdoms to the Asian region. And he argued that true peace is achieved when all these countries maintain their independence.

All the articles in the third volume discuss the patriotic deed of Ahn Jung-geun and meaning of the Theory of Oriental Peace. The themes of the article are as follows. The results of the study on Ahn Jung-geun in the last 10 years(Cho Kwang), Ahn Jung-geun's Perception of International Law(Shin Hyo-seung), The relationship between Korean and Chinese society formed around Shanghai(Sun Kezhi), The Meaning of Ahn Jung-geun's Autographs in the Collection of Ryukoku University(Lee Soo-im), Ahn Jung-geun and the Theory of Oriental Peace from the View of Japan(Makoto Katsumura), The American Press's Response to Ahn Jung-geun's Patriotic Deed(Hong Seon-pyo), The Effect of Ahn Jung-geun's theory of oriental peace on Korean Intellectuals in the 1910s and 1920s(Kim Hyun-chul).

This book is hoped. Through the theory of Oriental Peace which Ahn Jung-geun dreamed 100 years ago, future generations around the world will share the meaning of peace community.