The Early Korean Immigrant Association: The Korean National Association

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The Korean National Association (1910-1945)

The movement for the integration of organizations in the Korean American community began in Hawaii. On September 2, 1907, representatives from 24 organizations, totaling about 30 people, passed a four-point joint resolution and formed the “Korean Consolidated Association.” Subsequently, on the mainland, leaders such as Ahn Chang-ho, Choi Jung-ik, Lee Dae-wee, Kang Young-dae, Ahn Seok-jung, and Hwang Sa-yong from the Gongnip Association, along with Min Chan-ho, Lee Nae-soo, and Kang Young-so from Hawaii, began practical efforts to create an organization that would include all Koreans in America.

In July 1908, Syngman Rhee, Park Yong-man, and Yoon Byung-gu took the lead in holding the Patriotic Comrades Representative Conference in Denver, Colorado, from the 2nd to the 5th. The eight meetings fostered a spirit of forming anti-Japanese organizations across the Americas, providing a foundation for the movement to unify the Korean community. On November 30, 1908, an agreement was reached in San Francisco that efforts for the independence of Korea must be unified, and a joint proclamation was issued. With a pure spirit of patriotism and a dedication to restoring national sovereignty, a seven-point joint resolution was adopted, and the name “Korean National Association” was announced.

The Constitution of the Korean National Association

On February 1, 1909, the “Korean Consolidated Association” in Hawaii, with about 3,000 members, and the “Gongnip Association” in San Francisco, with about 2,000 members, officially merged into a single organization named the “National Association.” This event was greatly celebrated by the Korean communities in both the mainland and Hawaii. On the day the National Association was founded, especially in Hawaii, the entire Korean community took a holiday, flew the Korean flag from their homes, and held celebrations. About a thousand Koreans gathered in Honolulu for a congratulatory ceremony, which was attended by high-ranking officials from the Hawaiian state and Honolulu city governments. The organization’s publication was renamed “Shinhan Kookbo.” Even the Confucian scholars from the Yeongnam region in Korea sent messages of congratulations.

The “National Association” decided to include Koreans living outside the United States in its organization. In May 1909, when Koreans in Mexico were freed from semi-slavery labor conditions on farms, the North American National Association sent two delegates, Hwang Sa-yong and Bang Hwa-joong, to Mexico. On May 9, 1909, the National Association was established in the Merida region of Yucatan, Mexico. Over two years of efforts by special correspondents in the Far East led to the establishment of regional chapters in 16 areas in Russian territory and eight areas in Manchuria, forming provincial assemblies in Siberia and Manchuria.

Headquarters of the Korean National Association in San Francisco

Representatives at the first assembly of the Korean National Association Central Assembly (November 8-30, 1912) in San Francisco: From left to right: Choi Jung-ik, Im Cho, Ahn Chang-ho, Hwang Sa-yong, unidentified, Park Sang-ha, Park Yong-man, Kang Young-so, unidentified, unidentified, Lee Dae-wee, unidentified, unidentified.

As the National Association grew, it merged with the Daedong Bogukhoe, adopting the name “Korean National Association.” The objectives of the organization were defined as promoting education and industry, advocating for freedom and equality, enhancing the honor of Koreans, and restoring Korea’s independence. The Korean National Association was founded on May 10, 1910, marking a new era in the ethnic movement among Korean Americans. On July 3, 1910, the National Association organized the “Patriotic Alliance” under its umbrella for anti-Japanese resistance. The Korean National Association established four provincial assemblies in North America, Hawaii, Siberia, and Manchuria. At the representative meeting of the four provincial assemblies held in San Francisco on November 8, 1912, the Central Assembly was established.

The Korean National Association became the central organization for Koreans living not only in America but also in the areas they called “Won-dong,” including northwestern Gando, northern and southern Manchuria, and the Siberian maritime province. The National Association was not merely an immigrant organization; it was a national cultivation institution, an independence movement organization, a political institution where politics were practiced, and a protective institution for Korean Americans, providing job placement and acting as a labor union and cultural enhancement institution. Employers needing labor sought Korean workers through the National Association, which protected the interests and rights of Koreans. It also facilitated convenience for travelers or students from Korea and mediated issues among Koreans to avoid legal disputes in American courts.

Until the Hawaii Provincial Assembly split off as the Korean Residents Association in March 1922, the Korean National Association played a pivotal role in the ethnic movement of Korean Americans. From 1910 to 1922, it achieved complete unification among Korean American organizations. As a large organization with a history of over 40 years, it holds a very significant position in Korean ethnic history.

Organization of the Korean National Association

The Korean National Association operated democratically, with delegates and the General President elected by vote. Its headquarters were in San Francisco, with the Central Assembly overseeing provincial assemblies in North America, Hawaii, Siberia, and Manchuria, and 116 regional chapters under the jurisdiction of the provincial assemblies. The Siberian Provincial Assembly, established in October 1911, once had over 1,150 members but was dissolved in May 1915 due to political instability in Russia. The Manchurian Provincial Assembly, established in November 1911, was also dissolved in July 1914 due to the unstable living conditions and frequent migrations of Koreans. Members paid dues called “obligation fees,” and by 1918, almost every Korean in America was a member of the National Association.

In January 1913, the Central Assembly moved to Los Angeles, and the San Francisco office became the North American Provincial Assembly. In May 1913, the Hawaii Provincial Assembly obtained corporate status from the Hawaiian local government, and the North American Provincial Assembly received corporate status from the state of California in 1914. The first General President, Ahn Chang-ho, was elected in early 1915, with Park Yong-man as Vice President. The Central Assembly was maintained for 10 years but was dissolved in 1922 due to Syngman Rhee’s dominance of the Hawaii Provincial Assembly and his subsequent formation of the “Tongji Association.”

Declaration of the Korean National Association

On November 8, 1912, delegates from the four provincial assemblies gathered in San Francisco, held a representative meeting, and established the Central Assembly of the Korean National Association, issuing a declaration and a proclamation drafted by Park Yong-man.

The proclamation announcing the significance of establishing the Central Assembly to represent the rights and interests of overseas Koreans stated, “We have lost our country and have no government to protect our lives and property, nor any laws to govern us. What shall our compatriots do in the future? … Recovering our country requires the complete self-governance of its people, and thus we shall implement a self-governing system within our community to cultivate our self-governing abilities.”

The resolution included recognizing the Central Assembly of the Korean National Association as the highest institution for overseas Koreans, all overseas Koreans being obliged to follow the guidance of the Korean National Association, and the National Association being responsible for encouraging the fulfillment of obligations among the general population. The National Association did not have membership fees, but overseas Koreans, wherever they were, would send designated obligation fees to the National Association based on local circumstances. The obligation fee for provincial assemblies was set at $200.

Budget of the Korean National Association

The membership obligation fee of the Korean National Association was $3 at its founding in 1909, raised to $5 in 1913, and $15 after 1923, with total revenues and expenditures exceeding $1 million over 50 years. The annual budget in 1918 was $10,000. In response to the March 1st Movement, the association raised funds through independence donations, patriotic funds, and public bonds, with the financial statement from November 24, 1918, to July 1, 1920, showing a total of $115,000. Immediately after the March 1st Movement, on March 17, 1919, the Korean National Association’s Kim Jung-jin (Kim Ho’s real name) was dispatched to various regions in the western United States to raise independence donations, collecting over $10,000 in 63 days. On May 26, 1919, the Central Assembly announced that the independence donations amounted to $30,388.25, with the largest contribution of $3,400 coming from the wealthy farmer Kim Jong-rim. Every Korean American was registered as a member of the Korean National Association, and each member paid an annual obligation fee of $5.

Diplomatic Activities of the Korean National Association

The National Association liberated over a thousand Korean immigrant laborers in Mexico from quasi-slavery conditions through the manipulation of malicious brokers. In January 1918, Ahn Chang-ho personally went to Mexico, stayed for eight months, negotiated with farm owners to establish new contracts, and re-employed Korean laborers who had lost their jobs. The Korean National Association also acted as a de facto consulate, promoting the safety, property, and rights of Koreans. In 1913, it negotiated with the US government to allow new Korean immigrants without passports or the required legal travel money to enter the country under the association’s guarantee. It also managed the self-governance regulations for Koreans, obtaining a quasi-police authority to appoint police chiefs in each district for police administration.

On October 29, 1917, the Hawaii Provincial Assembly sent Park Yong-man to the Minorities Alliance Conference in New York to express the Korean nation’s desire for independence, creating an opportunity to bring the issue of Korean independence to the international diplomatic stage after World War I. With the United States’ entry into World War I in 1917, and Germany’s defeat, President Wilson proposed the establishment of the League of Nations and the self-determination of minority peoples for lasting world peace. The second annual meeting of the Minorities Alliance Conference held in New York from December 13, 1918, attended by Min Chan-ho as Ahn Chang-ho’s representative, resolved to promote the independence of minority nations. Inspired by this, the Korean National Association selected Syngman Rhee, Chung Han-kyung, and Min Chan-ho as representatives to attend the Paris Peace Conference on January 18, 1919, to demand self-determination for minority nations. However, the US government, concerned about deteriorating relations with Japan, refused to issue passports, preventing their attendance.

Meanwhile, in Shanghai, Kim Kyu-sik of the New Korean Youth Party set out to attend the Paris Peace Conference in February 1919. The Central Assembly of the Korean National Association sent him a letter of appointment and $3,500 for expenses, encouraging his efforts. Additionally, a Korean embassy was established in Paris for full-scale diplomatic activities, which lasted until September 1921. These efforts inspired events like the February 8th Declaration of Independence by Korean students in Japan and the March 1st Movement.

In April 1919, Seo Jae-pil held the “Korean Liberty Conference” in Philadelphia from April 14 to 16. Syngman Rhee was sent to Washington with a letter of authorization from Ahn Chang-ho, the president of the Korean National Association, to begin lobbying for independence. The association bore the expenses of Rhee’s Washington office and also sent funds for the Provisional Government and its officials’ living expenses. After organizing and supporting the Korean Commission to America and Europe with key figures like Syngman Rhee, Kim Kyu-sik, Seo Jae-pil, and Chung Han-kyung, the Korean National Association strengthened its independence diplomacy.

The Korean National Association’s diplomatic office in Philadelphia was reorganized as the Korean Communications Department on April 22. Seo Jae-pil established the “Korean Publicity Bureau” to publish various propaganda materials, including the journal “Korean Review,” fostering pro-Korean sentiment in American society. On May 16, the “Friends of Korea” organization was formed, with 21 chapters in the United States and one each in Britain and France, totaling about 25,000 members.

In April 1919, Ahn Chang-ho, as the representative of the Korean National Association, went to Shanghai and took the lead in establishing and operating the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. After World War II, the association organized the Korean American Federation and sent 15 representatives to Korea to cooperate in the independence movement. The Korean National Association published books such as “The Truth About Korea” and “Japanese Diplomacy and Violence” to American personalities, exposing Japanese oppression and rallying support from American Christians.

Status of the Korean National Association

After the annexation of Korea by Japan, the Japanese consulate attempted to interfere with Korean Americans, but the Korean National Association actively opposed it. An incident in Hemet, near Riverside, California, on June 27, 1913, was a turning point in recognizing the Korean National Association as the organization to handle Korean matters in the United States.

In Hemet, an Englishman named Simon hired 11 Koreans for his apricot farm at low wages. Upon their arrival, hundreds of white farmers gathered at the station, attacked the Koreans, threw their camping gear and bags to the ground, and threatened to kill them if they did not leave the town immediately. The farm owner compensated for the transportation costs, and the Koreans were forcibly sent back to Los Angeles. At the time, there was a strong anti-Japanese movement in California, and Koreans were often regarded as Japanese.

The Japanese consul claimed that Japan had the responsibility to protect Koreans due to the annexation and offered to negotiate compensation for the Koreans. The Japanese consulate protested to the US State Department, claiming the incident violated the US-Japan trade treaty. However, the Koreans demanded that the Japanese consulate not interfere in Korean matters. Lee Dae-wee, the president of the Korean National Association and the editor of the “Shinhan Minbo,” stated that Koreans in America had no relation to Japan, as they left Korea before the annexation. The Korean National Association opposed any Japanese consular intervention and did not want the US government to investigate the incident. Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan expressed that Koreans were not Japanese and that Korean matters should be resolved through the Korean community. This recognition led to over 500 Korean students and picture brides entering the US without passports under the guarantee of the Korean National Association from 1913 to 1924. The California government also ensured the well-being of its members and guaranteed non-profit public interest activities. During conflicts between the US and Japan, the National Association issued membership certificates in 1910, 1913, and 1935. During the Pearl Harbor incident, as a wartime emergency measure, the association issued “Korean American Federation Membership Certificates” to distinguish Koreans from Japanese.

Turbulent Times for the National Association

After World War I, the Korean National Association planned to send Syngman Rhee, Min Chan-ho, and Chung Han-kyung to the Paris Peace Conference in November 1918. However, the US government’s refusal to issue passports thwarted their plans. In response, Syngman Rhee published an article titled “International Mandate for Korea,” and Chung Han-kyung advocated for Korean autonomy.

Syngman Rhee’s article requesting an international mandate for Korea faced harsh criticism, and his supporters argued that the issue was a smear campaign against him. Amid this controversy, the March 1st Movement erupted. Domestic representatives formed the “Hansung Government,” appointing Syngman Rhee as the Chief Executive. Rhee established the Korean Commission in Washington, acting independently and issuing public bonds. He also demanded that the Korean National Association halt its fundraising activities for the Provisional Government.

The Korean National Association, supporting the Provisional Government, did not recognize Rhee’s position. Consequently, in March 1921, Rhee’s supporters withdrew from the Korean National Association’s Hawaii Provincial Assembly and formed a new association. This split weakened the Korean National Association, leading to the dissolution of the Central Assembly in January 1922 and its reorganization into the “North American Korean National Association” in the US, Mexico, and Cuba.

Choi Jung-ik, elected as the provincial assembly president, faced financial difficulties in managing the association’s affairs. In an attempt to generate quick profits, the association invested in potato farming in Northern California’s Stockton region but failed, losing the association’s building. This led to accusations and disputes, with some labeling Choi Jung-ik as a “thief.” Ahn Chang-ho intervened, forced Choi Jung-ik to resign, and raised funds to reclaim the building.

The association’s headquarters had been purchased on October 1, 1910, for $3,500 at 232 Ferry Street in San Francisco. In June 1914, the building was sold for $3,692, and the headquarters moved to the “Hughes Pacific Building” on Market Street. Seo Pil-soon paid off the remaining debt on the building with his own money. On December 28, 1914, a new building was purchased for $6,500 at 1053 Oak Street in San Francisco, serving as the Korean National Association’s headquarters and meeting hall. The headquarters moved to Market Street for convenience, using the Oak Street building for worship and meetings. By 1918, the building was fully paid off, thanks to special contributions from 552 members. An article in the “Shinhan Minbo” on May 16, 1918, listed the names of these contributors, acknowledging their efforts.

In May 1936, Kim Ho and 22 others held a roundtable meeting in San Francisco to discuss the revival of the Korean National Association. They prioritized supporting the Provisional Government, youth movements, and relief efforts, deciding to move the headquarters to Los Angeles with an $8,000 budget. Consequently, the headquarters, which had been in San Francisco for 28 years since 1909, relocated to a new building on Jefferson Boulevard in Los Angeles in 1937.

First General Assembly of the Korean American Federation at the Korean National Association’s LA Headquarters (April 3-7, 1942)

Addresses of the Korean National Association’s local offices as seen in the “Shinhan Minbo”
August 29, 1918:

• North American Provincial Assembly Office: 419 Hewes Bldg, San Francisco
• San Francisco Local Office: 2115 Webster St., San Francisco
• Sacramento Local Office: 324 P St., Sacramento
• Stockton Local Office: 9 E Sonora St., Stockton, CA
• Los Angeles Local Office: 2 Olive Ct., Los Angeles
• Claremont Local Office: P.O. BOX 195, Claremont
• Dinuba Local Office: P.O. BOX 54, Dinuba
• Manteca Local Office: P.O. BOX 177, Manteca

August 8, 1942

The New Korea－Published every week by
Korean National Association
K. N. A. Address: 1368 W. Jerrerson Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
English Section－young Korean National Association: 1368 W. Jerrerson Blvd. Los Angeles, CA
San Francisco－812 Kearney St. San Francisco, CA
Delano－P.O. BOX 554 Delano, CA
Reedley－1419 J. St. Reedley, CA
Sacramento－1815 6th St. 1020 3dr St.
(Reporter’s Address) Sacramento, CA Oakland- 1970 San Pablo Ave, Oakland, CA