동북아역사재단 2023년 03월호 뉴스레터
- Kim Guk-hwa, research fellow at KIMOS, Independence Hall of Korea
Activities of the Korean Provisional Government in Chongqing
Right after the bombing in Shanghai and Hongkew by Yoon Bong-gil in 1932, the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea(“Provisional Government”) left Shanghai and settled in Chongqing in September 1940. Chongqing was the provisional capital and the transportation hub designated by the Nationalist Party of China in 1937, after the Second Sino-Japanese War.
The Provisional Government established the Korean Liberation Army after settling in Chongqing with the support of the Chinese government. The Provisional Government that organized the Korean Independence Party, Provisional Government, and Korean Liberation Army reformed the cabinet minister-centered system to a premier leadership system to effectively perform an independence war. In 1941, the left-wing powers, including the Korean National Emancipation League led by Kim Seong-suk and the Chosun People’s Revolutionary Party led by Kim Won-bong, also joined the Provisional Government, comprising a left-right coalition government. In July 1942, the Korean Volunteers Army of the Chosun People’s Revolutionary Party was incorporated into the Korean Liberation Army, which was reformed as the first regiment of the Korean Liberation Army. In October of the same year, some leftists played a part in the Provisional Government through the election of the Korean Provisional Congress.
In 1940, during the promotion of the left-right coalition, the Korean Liberation Army performed joint operations with the US and Britain, engaging in independence diplomacy with allied countries. As a result, a resolution to “realize the Korean independence through appropriate procedures” was adopted at the Cairo Conference participated by the US, the UK, and China, after three years in 1943.
Constitutional reform and nation-building initiative
After liberation, the Provisional Government returned to Joseon and developed initiatives for the future of the nation. To realize this, the State Affairs Commission’ resolution of November 1941 enacted the Basic Principles and Policies for the Establishment of the Republic of Korea(“Basic Principles and Policies”), and the Provisional Constitution was declared through the fifth constitutional reform in 1944.
The Basic Principles and Policies were announced by the name of the State Affairs Commission of the Provisional Government, on November 28, 1941. The contents included General Provisions(Chapter 1), National Restoration (Chapter 2), and National Establishment(Chapter 3). The General Provisions proposed inherent sovereignty, Three Principles of the Equality, and nationalization of the land. The Basic Principles and Policies were based on the Three Principles of the Equality, which was made official by the name of the State Affairs Commission in 1941. National Restoration was a plan to have the national independence army advance to the mainland to establish a body and acquire international approval to complete the independence movement. Lastly, National Establishment regulated the Three Principles of the Equality in detail, emphasizing the right to freedom, political rights, and beneficiary's right.
The fifth constitutional reform in April 1944 resulted in the declaration of the Provisional Constitution. It was a revision of the previous Constitution, maintaining that “liberation activists are to be unified and independence shall be realized by all people of the nation.” The Provisional Constitution specified the Basic Principles and Policies and prepared for liberation. It also reinforced the authority of the premier but, at the same time, established the vice premier system, giving leeway to the leftists, including the Chosun People’s Revolutionary Party which played a crucial role in the coalition government. A tribunal, which was a privilege of liberation activists, was installed. With liberation in a near future in mind, the national founding ideology that inherited the Three Principles of the Equality and the Basic Principles and Policies was revealed through the Provisional Constitution. The Provisional Constitution displayed that the Provisional Government was the meeting point and center of independence activists, emphasizing the sincerity of the independence movement and the authority of the Provisional Government.
Repatriation of the Provisional Government officials
Japan surrendered to the Allies on August 15, 1945. The Provisional Government became aware of the surrender of Japan earlier on the 10th at 8 PM, when various media in Chongqing disseminated this notice. After Provisional Government President Kim Gu and Korean Liberation Army Commander-in-Chief Yi Cheong-cheon heard the news in Xi’an, the Provisional Government immediately held a state council meeting for discussing countermeasures. The meeting was held in the presence of state council members who were located in Chongqing at the time only. The meeting of the Provisional Congress followed on the 17th. Four days later, another meeting was arranged when Kim Gu returned to Chongqing from Xi’an. Even after a series of meetings, the Provisional Government and Provisional Congress failed to come up with an agreement, so the Provisional Government decided to return home as mentioned at the state council meeting. The Provisional Government prepared a statement and political plans to announce to the public before repatriation. On September 3rd, the following day after Japan signed the Japanese Instrument of Surrender, the Provisional Government announced its stance on liberation and plans after returning home through a text titled Notice to All Koreans at Home and Abroad signed by Kim Gu. The text was about policies for current issues, composed of 14 articles.
The 14 articles maintained that the Provisional Government will function as the government until an interim administration is established at home. The text also described the process and stages of establishing an official government, and stated that the Provisional Government will function as the government at the beginning, and then establish an interim administration together with the people of Korea. Kim Gu announced that a popular election will be held under the interim administration to establish a formal government, which is founded based on the principles of an independent state, democratic government, and equal society.
While preparing to return home, the Provisional Government put effort into protecting the lives and properties of Koreans in China. The Provisional Government requested the protection of Koreans to China and promoted pacification for Koreans residing in not only China but also Southeast Asia. The return of Koreans from China and Southeast Asia to Korea began in November 1945 and continued until July 1946.
The Provisional Government negotiated with the Nationalist Party of China on the international approval of the Provisional Government, issues of overseas Koreans, issues of Korean soldiers in the Japanese military, and transportation and expenses for repatriation. This was possible because the Provisional Government was established in the Chinese territory and maintained a close relationship with the Nationalist Party of China. The negotiation was about requesting practical measures for repatriation and specific assistance for expenses and transportation.
Preparations for the repatriation of the Provisional Government were made according to the negotiations between China and the US. The route was from Chongqing to Shanghai to Korea. The transportation for the route from Chongqing to Shanghai was funded by China, while that from Shanghai to Seoul was by the US. Returning home was not easy. The US military government approved the entry of the Provisional Government officials, but as individuals, and provided one jet for 15 passengers. The jet could not accommodate all the 29 repatriates who had already arrived in Shanghai, so they were divided into two groups. The first group of 15 repatriates including Kim Gu departed from Shanghai on November 23rd and arrived at Gimpo Airport at around 4 PM the same day. The second group of 22 repatriates left Shanghai on December 1st and landed in Seoul the following day.
The repatriation of the remaining Provisional Government personnel and family members was arranged after the Provisional Government officials left Chongqing. According to the list of overseas Koreans as of November 4, 1945, 501 Koreans were residing in Chongqing. Arrangements for the repatriation of these people were made in the following year due to a lack of transportation and budget. Finally, the employees and family members of the Provisional Government arrived in Korea in March and April of 1946. The rest of the nationals left Shanghai and arrived at Busan Port on April 29th.
The Provisional Government had sought different ways to regain our sovereignty and for national establishment after liberation since the settling in Chongqing in September 1940 until the repatriation in November 1945. In short, it functioned as an interim “government” until it returned home.
동북아역사재단이 창작한 '임시정부, 광복을 맞이하다' 저작물은 "공공누리" 출처표시-상업적이용금지-변경금지 조건에 따라 이용 할 수 있습니다.
