Abstract
The thesis presents the nationalist activities and socialist activities conducted in Shanghai and Korea, based on the deeds of Choi Chang-Sik (1892-1957), Korean independence movement activist, who was active in 1910 to 1930. He initiated hi...
Abstract
The thesis presents the nationalist activities and socialist activities conducted in Shanghai and Korea, based on the deeds of Choi Chang-Sik (1892-1957), Korean independence movement activist, who was active in 1910 to 1930. He initiated his involvement in the independence movement by participating in raising military fund for establishment of independence movement base in West Jiandao, with Kim Jwa-Jin in 1911. He taught history at Oseong School from 1912 to inspire students with national consciousness. During the time of 3·1 movement, he was dispatched to the areas of Nanjing, Shanghai, and Beijing as a member of national delegation and conducted promotion activities to the Chinese Revolution Party members, with his colleague independence movement activists. He played a significant role in the Korean Provisional Government from its establishment, serving as State Council Chief Secretary, Chairman of the interim National Assembly, and State Council Home Secretary. While serving for the Korean Provisional Government, he joined the Shanghai Korean Communist Party in May, 1920, and later became a member of Shanghai Irkutsk Group Koryo Communist Party, conflicting with Lee Dong-Hwi faction. He engaged in the socialist activities vigorously, serving as the executive director for the Shanghai Koryo Communist Young Men’s Association from June, 1921. In addition, when all the socialists withdrew from the Korean Provisional Government as Lee Dong-Hwi left the provisional government, Choi Chang-Sik remained as a socialist of Irkutsk Group Koryo Communist Party faction and participated in the movement of the National United Front.
Choi Chang-Sik's National United Front Movement activities are comprised of 6·10 National Movement, establishing Independence movement promotion association, and Shanghai Choksenghae activities. He exerted efforts to realize the National Unified Front Movement within the framework of the provisional government, by improving the Korean Provisional Government so that the National United Front would be built focused on the provisional government. Choi continued his efforts for the National United Front by running 3·1 printing office after the National United Front Movement ended in failure by the December Thesis of Comintern in 1928. However, his socialist propaganda pamphlets were confiscated and he was convicted and sentenced to three-year for violating the Public Peace Maintenance Law. It was April of 1930 that he was sent to Korea from Shanghai.
Choi Chang-Sik is the only independence activist who was progressively engaged in socialist activities while participating in the provisional government. His idea was that the independence movement fronts should be unified for a success and the provisional government should take the initiative in unifying the fronts. He devoted himself in the National United Front Movement from the late 1920s in order to unite the nationalist camp and the socialist camp in the framework of the Korean Provisional Government. In a nutshell, Choi Chang-Sik himself adopted socialism as a vehicle for the national independence of Korea but he constantly pursued the unity of nationalism and socialism.