CHURCH-AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS IN THE INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT
IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
During the early years of the church’s history, church members founded several organizations in San Francisco, including the Mutual Cooperation Association[1] (공립협회, established in April 1905 by Ahn Chang-ho and others at 232 Perry St.) and the Great Unity Patriotic Society[2] (대동보국회, established in March 1907). The Mutual Cooperation Association was a nationalist organization dedicated to promoting national consciousness among Korean immigrants in America, restoring Korea’s sovereignty, and fostering solidarity within the Korean community. It started with different branches and engaged in various activities, primarily in California and surrounding regions. Similarly, the Great Unity Patriotic Society was established in 1907 with the goal of uniting Korean efforts toward independence while preserving Korean cultural heritage abroad.
With the establishment of the San Francisco Korean Methodist Church, the Mutual Cooperation Association, and the Great Unity Patriotic Society, San Francisco became one of the central hubs for the Korean Independence Movement abroad. The assassination of Durham White Stevens at the San Francisco Ferry Building in 1908 is no coincidence in this context. Jang In-hwan (장인환), a co-founder of the Great Unity Patriotic Society, assassinated Stevens, an American diplomat who in 1904 had been appointed adviser to the Korean Foreign Office. Although hired by Korea, Stevens, often referred to as “the American dictator of the Hermit Kingdom [Korea],” openly advanced Japanese interests.[3] In an interview with The San Francisco Chronicle published on March 21, 1908, Stevens claimed that ordinary Koreans were benefiting from the increased Japanese presence and protection in their country and argued that Korea, in its current state, was unfit to be a liberated nation.[4] On March 22, four young Koreans—including Earl Lee, a fluent English speaker—confronted Stevens in the Fairmont Hotel lobby, where he denied that the Japanese were killing Koreans and eliminating Korean officials.[5] The following day, Jang In-hwan shot Stevens at the entrance of the San Francisco Ferry Building.
After the 1908 assassination, the Korean United Society (한인합성협회) in Hawaii, Ahn Chang-ho’s Mutual Cooperation Association in San Francisco, and others, including the Great Unity Patriotic Society, began coordinating their efforts, leading to the February 1909 establishment of the Korean National Association (대한인국민회, KNA).[6] In San Francisco, on May 13, 1913, Ahn Chang-ho founded the Young Korean Academy (흥사단), a nationalist movement organization, with Yang Ju-eun joining as its sixth member.[7] On April 4, 1914, Lee Dae-wei registered the KNA’s North American General Assembly as an incorporated organization with the State of California, which officially granted the incorporation two days later. More details on Ahn Chang-ho, Jang In-hwan, Lee Dae-wei, and Yang Ju-eun can be found in the next section.
Submitted by Sung Sohn
[1] Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. “미주 대한인국민회.”
[2] Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. “장인환.”
[3] “D.W. Stevens Shot By Korean Assassin,” The NY Times, March 24, 1908.
[4] John Koster, “Death of an ‘American Dictator,’” HistoryNet, Sept.10, 2018.
[5] Gary Kamiya. “PORTALS OF THE PAST: ‘I decided to kill him and kill myself’: When imperialist politics lead to a murder in SF.” San Francisco Examiner, April 1, 2024.
[6] “장인환.” Encyclopedia of Korean Culture.
[7] “양주은” Korean National Association Memorial Foundation.
With the establishment of the San Francisco Korean Methodist Church, the Mutual Cooperation Association, and the Great Unity Patriotic Society, San Francisco became one of the central hubs for the Korean Independence Movement abroad. The assassination of Durham White Stevens at the San Francisco Ferry Building in 1908 is no coincidence in this context. Jang In-hwan (장인환), a co-founder of the Great Unity Patriotic Society, assassinated Stevens, an American diplomat who in 1904 had been appointed adviser to the Korean Foreign Office. Although hired by Korea, Stevens, often referred to as “the American dictator of the Hermit Kingdom [Korea],” openly advanced Japanese interests.[3] In an interview with The San Francisco Chronicle published on March 21, 1908, Stevens claimed that ordinary Koreans were benefiting from the increased Japanese presence and protection in their country and argued that Korea, in its current state, was unfit to be a liberated nation.[4] On March 22, four young Koreans—including Earl Lee, a fluent English speaker—confronted Stevens in the Fairmont Hotel lobby, where he denied that the Japanese were killing Koreans and eliminating Korean officials.[5] The following day, Jang In-hwan shot Stevens at the entrance of the San Francisco Ferry Building.
After the 1908 assassination, the Korean United Society (한인합성협회) in Hawaii, Ahn Chang-ho’s Mutual Cooperation Association in San Francisco, and others, including the Great Unity Patriotic Society, began coordinating their efforts, leading to the February 1909 establishment of the Korean National Association (대한인국민회, KNA).[6] In San Francisco, on May 13, 1913, Ahn Chang-ho founded the Young Korean Academy (흥사단), a nationalist movement organization, with Yang Ju-eun joining as its sixth member.[7] On April 4, 1914, Lee Dae-wei registered the KNA’s North American General Assembly as an incorporated organization with the State of California, which officially granted the incorporation two days later. More details on Ahn Chang-ho, Jang In-hwan, Lee Dae-wei, and Yang Ju-eun can be found in the next section.
Submitted by Sung Sohn
[1] Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. “미주 대한인국민회.”
[2] Encyclopedia of Korean Culture. “장인환.”
[3] “D.W. Stevens Shot By Korean Assassin,” The NY Times, March 24, 1908.
[4] John Koster, “Death of an ‘American Dictator,’” HistoryNet, Sept.10, 2018.
[5] Gary Kamiya. “PORTALS OF THE PAST: ‘I decided to kill him and kill myself’: When imperialist politics lead to a murder in SF.” San Francisco Examiner, April 1, 2024.
[6] “장인환.” Encyclopedia of Korean Culture.
[7] “양주은” Korean National Association Memorial Foundation.