Daedongdan, Korea’s largest secretive organization against the Japanese, and Dongnong Kim Ga-jin
Daedongdan (Korean National Association for Great Unity), Korea’s first and largest secretive organization against the Japanese.
Established in late March 1919, Daedongdan was organized into 11 branches that transcended all classes and statuses to realize the value of "Daedong," the power of national unity, and aimed not only for independence but also for world peace and creating an ideal nation.
As the key to the Yeontongje, the secretive liaison system of the Korean Provisional Government,
Daedongdan was the most imprisoned national organization in the history of the independence movement.
Daedongdan is a little-known piece of history because it was a strictly secretive organization.
To understand the history of its independence movement, we should pay attention to the president of Daedongdan, Dongnong Kim Ga-jin.
As a minister and ambassador to the Korean Empire and Emperor Gojong’s closest confidant, he was the great leader of the independence movement with his son Kim Eui-hwan and daughter-in-law Jung Jeong-hwa.
After the March 1st Movement, he renounced all government positions and became the only minister from the Joseon dynasty to go into exile in Shanghai, where he served as an advisor to the Korean provisional government. In addition, he showed an unyielding spirit of resistance by leading the exile of Prince Yi Kang.
Daedongdan Declaration written by Kim Ga-jin triggered the Second Independence Movement on November 28, 1919, and despite his age of over 70, he fought for independence in a foreign land until the end of his life, including the distribution of a fundraising solicitation letter and the launch of the operation to advance in the country.
Despite having the most decorated members in a single organization, Daedongdan is gradually fading from our memories.
We should remember that it is our duty to follow the spirit of independence that Daedongdan and Dongnong Kim Ga-jin showed us.
Let’s watch this video to learn about their great history of resistance from behind the scenes.
Link : https://youtu.be/3Bz4xK5TiMA?si=BqpN3gr7-H_b1iov