Heungsadan in San Francisco

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Heungsadan is an organization founded by Dosan Ahn Chang-ho in San Francisco, USA, on May 13, 1913, with the aim of achieving national independence and nurturing capable individuals. The name “Heungsadan” was originally used by a patriotic organization founded by Yu Gil-jun in Korea before the annexation. Although the original organization no longer existed, Dosan decided to reuse the name, appreciating its significance.

The name “Heungsadan” means “to revive the nation’s spirit through the education of the people,” emphasizing the unity beyond political or religious affiliations. The word “Heungsa” (흥사) symbolizes the revival of the scholar’s spirit, with the goal of fostering a healthy character and unity to contribute to national independence and the construction of the state after independence. The “Sa” in “Heungsa” refers to both literary and martial scholars, implying the nurturing of true patriots.

The establishment of Heungsadan in San Francisco, gathering the spirit and strength of early immigrants, holds great significance, as it has demonstrated the consistency of its ideology and organizational structure for over a century, from the early days of Japanese colonial rule to the present.

Background and Purpose of Heungsadan’s Establishment

The imperialist policies, a byproduct of the Industrial Revolution that began in Britain, targeted Asia and Africa as colonies. Japan, succumbing to U.S. pressure, opened its doors in 1854 and couldn’t prevent economic infiltration by capitalist powers. Eventually, the aristocratic warrior class fell, and the Meiji Restoration occurred with the support of the samurai of peasant origin. The modernization of industries centered on the state took on a militaristic character, leading Japan to seek compensation in the East for losses incurred in the West. Japan’s external aggression policies invaded and colonized Korea, Manchuria, and China. Their colonial policies focused not only on social and economic exploitation but also on eradicating and obliterating the Korean people to create a subordinate status.

After the annexation of Korea in 1910, Japan turned the peninsula into a supplier of food and raw materials, while human and material exploitation intensified following the Sino-Japanese War. However, the anti-Japanese independence movement under Japanese rule saw divisions and conflicts among leadership, prompting various forms of resistance by democratic figures.

The Enlightenment Movement, Donghak Peasant Movement, and Righteous Army Struggle emerged after the Eulsa Treaty. Western ideas and culture, introduced alongside religion, had a significant impact on the people. The Independence Club movement led by Seo Jae-pil planted the seeds of ideological modernization based on humanism. The Progressive School established by Dosan in Kangseo, Pyeongan-do, aimed to enlighten the people, but feeling the limitations, Dosan left for study abroad in the United States, believing that enhancing the people’s strength and training them as citizens was crucial. The purpose of Heungsadan’s establishment was to “unite loyal men and women who value sincerity and action, uphold justice, and cultivate sound character through the education of body, mind, and intellect, forming a sacred organization to lay the foundation for the prosperity of our nation.”

Heungsadan’s Creed and Spirit

Heungsadan’s two main creeds are the cultivation of sound character and sacred unity. The three principles of education are physical, moral, and intellectual education, with physical education prioritized as knowledge cannot be exercised without health.

The four principles are sincerity and action, summarized as “Let us become a nation without lies.” The alliance training was a key activity of the organization, and justice and integrity were its core values.

◈ Sincerity: Discard falsehood, seek truth, and abandon hypocritical customs and ideas.

◈ Action: Avoid idle talk and practice even a single deed with effort.

◈ Loyalty: Uphold loyalty and integrity with a sense of responsibility and build trust.

◈ Courage: Charge into righteous deeds, endure difficulties, and overcome weak attitudes with proactive spirit.

◈ Alliance Training: The most important activity of Heungsadan, advocating self-correction to reform the nation, encouraging mutual support and discipline among members.

The alliance training curriculum includes sound character, sacred unity (unbreakable and enduring unity), and public spirit. Key activities include question-and-answer sessions, induction ceremonies and oaths, attendance at meetings, alliance reading, and alliance exercises. Heungsadan emphasized daily activities, requiring members to record their daily tasks, work, and exercises, and submit weekly reports to their leaders.

◈ Justice and Integrity: The most crucial aspect of Heungsadan’s character, considering love as the source of unity and promoting it as a virtue among the general public. The alliance savings system aimed to foster economic strength, while a mutual aid system provided financial support during celebrations or hardships among members.

Membership in Heungsadan was limited to individuals of upright conduct and promising future prospects, who pledged to live a life of integrity and fulfill the organization’s principles throughout their lives. Recruitment was stringent, reflecting Dosan’s belief that rigorous daily discipline would develop the capability to realize Heungsadan’s ideals. After its establishment, Dosan devoted six years to recruiting members, and by the time of the March 1st Movement, Heungsadan had 150 members. Among Dosan’s endeavors, he placed the greatest effort into Heungsadan, with detailed records of members’ personal information and membership numbers preserved as valuable historical data on the independence movement.

History of Heungsadan

Dosan, a young participant in the Independence Club movement, returned from studying in the United States and organized the secret society “Shinminhoe,” initiating the national salvation movement. He promoted new ideas through newspapers like Daehan Maeil Shinmun, Hwangseong Shinmun, and Jeguk Shinmun, igniting both an anti-Japanese movement and a democratic and modernization movement with the belief that “knowledge is power.” The Shinminhoe secret society, along with nationwide lectures, also established educational and industrial institutions, forming the Youth Friendship Society in February 1909. It was a youth movement aiming to awaken the true spirit of the nation and recover true independence, emphasizing sincerity and action over rhetoric and formality. Choi Nam-seon assisted Dosan in practical affairs as the central secretary.

The “Youth Friendship Society,” Korea’s first modern youth movement, had a brief lifespan of two years but its purpose, objectives, and activities were inherited by Heungsadan. On Friday, May 13, 1913, Heungsadan was founded at the residence of Kang Young-so in San Francisco, with Dosan Ahn Chang-ho, then 35 years old, playing a leading role. Eight representatives from various provinces were selected as founding members, including Hong Eon (Gyeonggi-do), Cho Byeong-ok (Chungcheong-do), Song Jong-ik (Gyeongsang-do), Jeong Won-do (Jeolla-do), Kang Young-so (Pyeongan-do), Kim Jong-rim (Hamgyeong-do), Min Chan-ho (Hwanghae-do), and Yeom Man-seok (Gangwon-do).

The founding committee was composed of representatives from eight provinces to prevent regional bias. It took over a year to gather representatives from each province, with Cho Byeong-ok, Jeong Won-do, and Kang Young-so recruiting members. Dosan personally conducted the interviews.

At the time of its founding, Heungsadan’s headquarters was located on Bunker Hill Street in San Francisco but moved to Figueroa Street in 1915. In July 1932, the organization purchased land at 34211 South Catarina Street in Los Angeles, building a two-story Western-style house and relocating. The first Heungsadan conference was held on December 19, 1913, in Sacramento and Claremont, marking the beginning of 50 years of annual conferences. The purpose of the conference was to unite all members as comrades, solidify the organization’s ideology, and thoroughly discuss and research the future direction of Heungsadan.

In 1948, the headquarters in the United States was moved to Seoul.

Heungsadan Flag and Anthem

The flag of Heungsadan, designed by Dosan Ahn Chang-ho at the time of its founding in 1913, incorporates four colors: yellow, red, white, and blue. Each color has a symbolic meaning: yellow stands for sincerity, red for action, white for loyalty, and blue for courage. At the center of the flag is a white circle, within which is the character “사” (Sa), shaped like a flying goose. The circle represents unity, while the “사” symbolizes Heungsa, the spirit of the organization. The Heungsadan anthem, composed by Dosan, reflects the forward-looking spirit of the organization.

Pure as gold, and red as the blood of the heart,
Blue like the clear sky, and distinct as the midday sun,
With wings spread wide, soaring high and advancing,
This bright flag represents Heungsadan.

Oh, goose, my flag, you are my love,
You are my guide, let us be together forever.

In addition to Dosan’s anthem, Song Jong-ik, one of the founding members, also composed an anthem, and others like Jeong In-gwa and Yeom Man-seok published anthems in the first poetry collection of Heungsadan.

Mission of Heungsadan

“The mission of Heungsadan is to first cultivate the foundational strength necessary to save Korea, and that foundational strength lies in the power of the people, in the nurturing and expression of a sound national character.

Given that our society’s environment and traditions have led to a deterioration in the national character, Heungsadan aims to restore this character and raise the strength to realize our nation’s ideals through specialized education and training.

To build an ideal state, we must develop the strength to undertake such a task, and that strength is found in individuals. Each citizen must cultivate the determination and ability to contribute to the prosperity of the nation and the advancement of society. Our mission is to unite this individual strength into a collective force capable of driving national endeavors.”

Heungsadan Bylaws and Organization

The original bylaws of Heungsadan, drafted by Dosan Ahn Chang-ho, Kang Young-dae, and Kwak Lim-dae in 1913 at the Korean Students’ Training Center in Claremont, were established after a week of discussion and research. The bylaws were first revised in 1933 and again in 1947 after Dosan’s death, but the revisions sought to return to the spirit of the original bylaws.

The founding bylaws stated: “The purpose of this organization is to unite loyal men and women who value sincerity and action, uphold justice, and cultivate sound character through the education of body, mind, and intellect, forming a sacred organization to lay the foundation for the prosperity of our nation.”

The revised bylaws of Heungsadan read as follows: “For our nation, with a long tradition, to build a progressive democratic society, each citizen must first possess the right mental attitude and a vigorous desire for revival. Such a mental attitude is influenced by changes in political, economic, educational, and cultural conditions in society, but individuals also have the driving force to improve and create their environment. Therefore, to revive the nation, true, forward-looking, cooperative, and courageous workers must take on national responsibilities with a sense of mission and practice, and continuous efforts are needed to cultivate such workers. This is the national salvation ideology advocated by Dosan Ahn Chang-ho, and convinced that it is the true path for our nation, we pledge to dedicate our lives to the Heungsadan movement, regardless of our social roles and positions.”

Heungsadan members were classified into three types: regular members, preliminary members, and special members. The selection process for members was extremely rigorous, with Dosan personally conducting the admission interviews. Regular members were assigned unique member numbers, and eligibility required individuals to be at least 17 years old, with no record of deceitful behavior or lazy habits, and to possess the spirit of sincerity and action, ensuring their loyalty and unity.

Heungsadan’s finances depended on members’ admission fees, annual dues, donations, and reserves. The admission fee for members was 20 won, and the annual dues were 1 won, with adjustments considered based on circumstances.

The organization was structured into three branches: legislative, judicial, and administrative, with groups of eight forming units and adopting a military-style rapid communication system. The organization’s colors, red and yellow, symbolizing sincerity and action, were used in ceremonial items, with each member wearing a commemorative ribbon of these two colors. Members addressed each other as “Gun” and used the two colors in insignia and decorations.

Heungsadan’s Business Ventures

Heungsadan established a joint-stock company among its members called Daedong Industrial Company to initiate business ventures. They started by purchasing Japanese soy sauce, bottling it for retail, but ended up losing tens of thousands of dollars, leading to failure.

While recruiting members, Heungsadan presented its business plans to the Korean community, raising over $20,000 in capital. In 1917, the “Northern American Industrial Corporation” was officially established. By 1918, the total capital reached over $50,000. Dosan aimed to establish a financial institution within the Korean community to provide a credit foundation for international trade. However, after investing $30,000 in rice farming in Willows, Northern California, a flood caused significant losses.

Dosan used $10,000 entrusted to him by his friend Park Young-soon for rice farming to ensure the safety of the Provisional Government in France when its position became precarious. However, this led to suspicion, and legal action was taken, questioning whether Dosan had used the Northern American Industrial Corporation’s funds. Due to failed investments and legal disputes, the company was eventually dissolved in 1929, with Kim Jong-rim, Kim Soon-gwon, and Kwak Lim-dae handling the final liquidation.

Chronology of Heungsadan

• Winter 1909: Dosan went to Shanghai to work with the Provisional Government and promoted Heungsadan’s spirit among young comrades, leading to the formation of the Far East Committee.
• 1912: Dosan visited the Korean Students’ Training Center in Claremont, Southern California, to discuss the draft of Heungsadan’s bylaws with Song Jong-ik.
• May 13, 1913: Heungsadan was founded at the residence of Kang Young-so in San Francisco with eight representatives from various provinces.
• 1915: The first poetry collection of Heungsadan members was published, and 36 members presented their works, including the Heungsadan anthem, printed on a mimeograph.
• October 5, 1914: The first issue of the Heungsadan Bulletin was published, and by September, the number of members had increased to over 50. A new headquarters was built at 34211 South Catarina Street, Los Angeles, where the organization remained active until 1919.
• Winter 1919: A branch was established in Shanghai, and as the number of members grew, a request was made to the headquarters to establish the Far East Committee.
• 1920: Heungsadan focused on spreading its ideology, organizing branches in China and Korea, such as the Suhyangdongwoohoe in Korea, until 1931.
• 1922: Lee Kwang-soo, after joining Heungsadan in Shanghai, returned to Korea and published the “Theory of National Reconstruction” in a magazine, revealing Heungsadan’s core ideology for the first time.
• February 12, 1922: The Suhyangdongwoohoe was organized at Lee Kwang-soo’s house in Dangju-dong, Seoul.
• January 16, 1923: The Dongwoo Club was established in Pyongyang.
• October 11, 1925: After joint negotiations in Pyongyang, the Suhyangdongwoohoe was officially named in 1926, and in 1929, the Suhyangdongwoohoe and the Dongwoo Club were merged and renamed the Dongwoohoe.
• May 1926: The magazine “Donggwang” was launched as a Heungsadan project but was discontinued after 40 issues in January 1933. The magazine featured many writings by Lee Kwang-soo and Dosan, who wrote under the pseudonym Sanong. After “Donggwang” was discontinued, Lee Kwang-soo published two volumes of “Donggwang Anthology.”
• 1932-1945: Heungsadan branches in China and Korea were forcibly dissolved, and the organization suffered severe persecution.
• June 1937: A month before the Sino-Japanese War, Japanese authorities arrested hundreds of Dongwoohoe members, ordering the dissolution of the organization to maintain public order.
• December 1945: When the Korean National Association delegation visited Korea from the United States, Heungsadan members in Korea organized the Heungsadan Korea Committee on January 5, 1946, at the house of Ju Yo-han.
• 1946: The headquarters was moved to Seoul, where it remained active until 1961.
• January 5, 1948: The Heungsadan headquarters in the United States was relocated to Seoul.
• Spring 1949: The “Kookmin Ilbo” newspaper was launched but was soon closed due to financial difficulties.
• The Korean War in 1950: Many comrades were sacrificed, and the headquarters were temporarily relocated to Busan before returning to Seoul in 1953, with a committee established in the United States.
• September 1954: The magazine “Saebyeok,” similar to “Donggwang,” was launched as a semi-official organ of Heungsadan. Combining “Donggwang” and “Saebyeok,” nearly 100 issues were published, contributing significantly to Korea’s cultural development before and after liberation.
• 1962: Heungsadan’s registration as an organization was canceled, but it resumed activities in 1963.

Heungsadan Bulletin

Under the editorship of Dosan, the first issue of the Heungsadan Bulletin was published on October 5, 1914, using a simple mimeograph. Its purpose was to facilitate communication among members, continually promote Heungsadan’s principles and spirit, and share news about members and events, along with educational essays. The monthly summary from August 1915 shows that members read a total of 3,238 pages and exercised for 97 hours and 13 minutes, demonstrating the active implementation of Heungsadan’s physical, moral, and intellectual education programs.

The September 1915 issue (Vol. 1, No. 10) featured an essay titled “Despair and Hopelessness are the Suicide of the Spirit,” likely written by Dosan. In the essay, he stated, “When one despairs and loses hope, that person is as good as dead. If the number of such people increases, whom will our beloved peninsula depend on?” He urged members to cultivate a cheerful disposition, become the light and standard for our nation, and avoid falling into the trap of despair and hopelessness. Through the Bulletin, Dosan hoped to continuously strengthen the nation’s vitality and build its capabilities.

Inheritance of Heungsadan’s Spirit

During the Japanese colonial period, Heungsadan played a significant role as a nationalist independence organization, striving to nurture individuals who would contribute to national restoration and providing financial support to the Provisional Government in Shanghai. After liberation, Heungsadan functioned as a civic enlightenment organization, hosting Friday lectures and publishing “Saebyeok” magazine to promote freedom and democratic ideals, ultimately sparking the April 19 Revolution. In 1963, marking the 50th anniversary of its founding, Heungsadan launched the “Heungsadan Academy Movement,” a youth and student movement to cultivate future leaders of Korean society, producing many talented individuals. Today, based on its 90-year history and tradition, Heungsadan actively promotes three major civic movements: the National Unification Movement, the Transparent Society Movement, and the Education and Youth Movement.

List of Heungsadan Members in the United States

(Numbers in parentheses indicate the regular member number, not the order of entry.)

1913 Enrollment / Ha Sang-ok (1), Kang Young-so (2), Jeong Won-do (3), Ahn Chang-ho (4), Hwang Sa-yong (5), Yang Joo-eun (6), Hong Eon (7), Min Chan-ho (8), Hwang Sa-seon (9), Kim Hong-gyun (10), Kim Byeong-gyu (11), Lee Seok-jin (12), Lee Eung-mok (13), Park Bong-ryeol (14), Yoon Eung-ho (15), Jeong Dong-eop (16), Yoon Jin-oh (17), Ma Chun-bong (18), Kim Kwan-yoo (19), Song Jong-ik (20), Moon Young-woon (21), Kang Young-dae (22), Lee Geon-young (23), Lee Young-soo (24), Yeom Man-seok (25), Cho Seong-hwan (26), Jeong Young-do (27), Kim Soon-hak (28), Cho Gap-seok (29), Hyun Seung-ryeol (30), Lim Joon-gi (31), Lim Seong-gi (32), Jeong In-gwa (33), Kim Jong-rim (34), Lim Cho (35), Shin Dal-yoon (36), Kwak Lim-dae (37), Gil Cheon-woo (38), Lee Il (39), Yoon Ji-han (40), Lee Woon-gyeong (41)

1914 Enrollment / Kim Byeong-yeon (42), Oh Rim-ha (43), Yoon Pil-geon (44), Kim Gwan-heung (45), Cho Byeong-ok (46), Lee In-shin (47), Lee Jeon (48), Kim Gye-seon (49), Cho Jong-moon (50), Park Yeong-ro (51), Baek Il-gyu (52), Park Seon (53), Kim Jong-deok (54), Park In-tak (55), Park Don-wook (56), Shin Kwang-hee (57), Park Young-soon (423), Byun Ki-hyun (427)

1915 Enrollment / Cha Hee-seon (58), Kim Ki-man (142)

1916 Enrollment / Park Young-jik (61), Choi Yoon-ho (62), Cheon Se-heon (226), Jeong Won-hyeon (448)

1917 Enrollment / Han Jang-ho (59), Choi Neung-ik (60), Choi Jae-deok (63), Lee Rak-joo (64), Hwang Bo-jeong-gil (65), Choi Seok-young (66), Shin Hyun-mo (67), Kye Ok-ryong (68), Park Il-woo (69), Choi Hee-song (70), Jang Ri-wook (71), Kim Tae-jin (72), Choi Jin-ha (73), Han Byeong-seon (74), Kim Young-hoon (75), Lee Am (76), Han Seung-gon (77), Noh Jeong-min (78), Ha Hee-ok (79), Lee Yong-geun (80), Yang Cheol (81), Lee Cho (82), Son Jeong-do (109), Han Shi-dae (179), Lim Seong-taek (272), Na Jin-gon (421), Lee Chang-seong (438), Cho Deuk-rin (449), Cho Myung-goo (450), Cha Jeong-seok (452), Ham Gye-taek (456), Heo Seung-won (460)

1918 Enrollment / Cho Wool-im (83), Cho Moon-hae (84), Heo Jin-up (85), Oh Ik-jo (86), Song Sang-dae (also known as Song Do-kyung) (87), Lee Yong-seon (88), Choi Neung-jin (89), Kim Chang-man (90), Kim Ki-chang (136), Kim Ki-hong (410), Kim Dong-soon (411), Kim Myung-soon (412), Kim Jeong-sik (416), Kang Myung-won (420), Sa Deok-soon (428), Lee Kyung-sang (435), Lee Myung-sang (436), Lee Myung-won (437), Lee Jae-soo (439), Lee Woo-sik (440), Lee Kyu-ha (441), Lee In-sang (444), Heo Wan (445), Cha Yong-hwan (453), Choi Dae-hyun (454)

1919 Enrollment / Kim Seong-gwon (91), Kim Byeong-han (92), Kwak Yong-ju (93), Yang Hong (94), Myung Il-seon (95), Hwang Sa-geun (96), Lee Won-seok (97), Kim Jin-gyu (415), Lee Jong-oh (443)

1920 Enrollment / Jang Byeong-hoon (98), Choi Bong-min (99), Park Young-gwan (100), Kim Ki-hoo (102), Byun Joon-ho (102), Park Young-je (114), Lee Moon-ha (117), Kim Deok-boo (119), Kim Yeo-taek (120), Son Yi-do (131), Cho Jin-hwan (164)