As a “representative organization of the Korean nation,” the KPG practiced diplomatic independence movement. Though neither a de facto political regime nor an exile government, the KPG emphasized its orthodoxy and legality trying to strengthen its...
As a “representative organization of the Korean nation,” the KPG practiced diplomatic independence movement. Though neither a de facto political regime nor an exile government, the KPG emphasized its orthodoxy and legality trying to strengthen its power as a national government. When the diplomatic theory lost its influence with the establishment of the 1922 Washington Naval Conference treaties system, the KPG began to disintegrate and fell into internal conflicts. At the National Representative Congress held in January 1923, a fierce debate occurred on the future directions of independence movement whether to reform the KPG or to create a new leading independence movement organization. After the Congress failed, the domestic political parties and social organizations led the national liberation movement.
The “decolonization” phenomenon appeared partly in Korea in the process of Japanese “Enlightening through Cultural Ruling” politics. The existing historical evaluation underestimating the compromising(reformist) nationalist independence movement led by the Korean collaborators may need to be reconsidered. The united front movement for the national liberation was frequently hindered by the Korean non-compromising nationalists including the KPG leaders who rejected the solidarity and liaison with the compromising nationalists.