II
Independence Of Korr
By SOON HYUN
Koreans both in and out of Korea h ..: never Inced Suj
golden opportunity as today to Tt aiize their national indepenai-
ence, since March 1, 18id. ey were united to declare
independence from the unjust and inhuman rule of Japan. Since
then, there have been in existence many schools of thought concerning methods of achieving independence. Some uphold non-
resistance, like Gandhi of India. Some dream of the accomplishment of Korea's freedom through diplomacy, like certain
American educated Korean scholars. Some pessimistic political leaders of Korea advocate autonomy under the Japanese government.
Above all, Koreans cannot forget that there has been constant
fighting opposition to the Japanese by unfailing Korean patriots.
At Harbin, Manchuria, in 1909, An Chung Kun assassinated
Ito Hakubun, the so-called "Father of Modern Japan" who
forced the Emperor of Korea to sign the protectorate treaty in
1905. Outside the gate "Sakurada" of the Imperial Palace at
Tokio, Lee Bong Chang made a daring attempt on the life of
Hirohito in January 1932. In April 1932, the great bombing incident in Hong Kui Park, Shanghai, which resulted in the death
of several important Japanese military leaders, including General Shiragawa, then commander-in-chief of the Shanghai district, was executed by a lone Korean patriot, Yun Bong Kil.
These three direct fearless acts of opposition to the worldwide Fascist enemy have given great impetus to the people
struggling for their freedom in Europe no less than the people
in the Orient.
* * • *
There have been many more direct action riots, acts of sabotage, and guerrilla warfare against Japan both in and out of
Korea. Moreover, the Independent Korean Unit in Siberia was
engaged to fight the Japs during the border clash between
Japan and Russia in recent years. There have been also two organized Korean forces fighting the Japs in China side by side with
the Chinese army. One is known as the Independence Army
under Lee Chung Chun, and the other as the Korean Volunteer
Corps under Kim Yak San. These two armed forces have been
incorporated under the Chinese military control for united
action.
* * * *
Since Japan stabbed America in the back on December 7,
1941, she has for the first time in her history been forced to
combat a major armed resistance from the United Nations.
Today, Japanese pride themselves on the occupation of Hong
Kong, Malaya, Burma, N. E. I., some islands of the Aleutian
Group. The United Nations are compelled to hold second fronts
both in Europe and Asia. This necessitates enormous war production at home and the stationing of unlimited numbers of
troops all over the world. However, when the United Nations
advance to destroy the Fascist powers of Germany and Japan,
the latter will undoubtedly be defeated. This will be the ultimate
victory which the people of the world expect.
* * * *
What should we the Koreans do to contribute to this great
victory for the world's freedom? The question has been simplified
by the elimination of conflicts among Koreans themselves, both in
and out of Korea. They are united to cry, "Let us fight the Japs for
our complete independence and full freedom."
* * ♦ *
However, two claims to the leadership of the Independence
movement of Koreans in America still exist. One insists on recognition by the United States of the Korean Provisional Government on the ground that such recognition may facilitate
the fighting force. The other urges all factions to unite immediately to fight the Japs wherever possible and with whatever limited resources accessible. Such action, -they insist, cannot fail to claim the attention of the United Nations and thus
lead to recognition of the Provisional Government. Realistically, they place prompt action before diplomatic delay. A timely
observation by the famous American newspaper correspondent,
Anna Louise "Strong, in her recent book "The Soviets Expected It" clearly supports this view.' The following is quoted
from the book.
"One thing I know, that this is a world-wide struggle in
which all who wish to share in the world's iuture must now
immediately share. Europe's future will be settled not by governments-in-exile. It will be settled by the acts of Europe's
fighting people, who ally themselves with the great battle for
the world. It will be settled by the Serbian peasants whose leaders
hang from gallows, by Czechs who remained organized under
two years of Nazi rule, by that German pastor who spent four
years in a concentration camp, by that Norwegian scientist
who refused to bow to Hitler, by French workers dying today in
Paris, and by German workers and farmers when they have
cast off the Nazi yoke."
Apart from any differing political theories, one point must
be emphasized: That this is a nation-wide struggle in Korea
in which all who wish to share the nation's future must join,
parties in exile! It will be settled by the acts of Korea's fighting
people who willingly ally themselves with the United Natic***
for the world's freedom. It will be settled by the Korean youtns4
who give their precious lives in guerrilla warfare. It will be
settled by the young girls who stood very courageously during
flogging and torturing by the Jap police for their participation
in the national movement. It will be settled by the Korean
writers who planted the seeds of revolution among the Koreans
through their novels and poems. It will be settled by the Korean
Christians who refuse to bow before the Sun Goddess of Japan.
It will be settled by thousands of Korean workers who burn and
destroy munition factories, oil tanks, airplanes, hangars and
communication lines. It will be settled by millions of common
people whose slogan is, "Rather die a free man than live a
slave to the Japs." It will be settled by the loyal and faithful
leaders who do their utmost for a united action to drive the
Japanese armed force out of Asia and the Pacific. There is no
division among the Koreans toward this great goal. They are
a united people for complete national independence and full
freedom.
